Formica (Serviformica) fusca
| Latin Name: |  |
Formica (Serviformica) fusca |
| Trivialname: |  |
Grey-black slaveant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(1) easy to keep, just in too small basins they could be using too much formicacid if gettin stressed |
| Distribution: |  |
all above Europe, Northamerica |
| Habitat: |  |
prefers open xeric and halfxeric grassland, avoids closed areas |
| Colonyform: |  |
polygyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: approx. 12mm Colour: shiny black |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 4 - 8 mm Colour: shiny black, yellowish legs |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
- |
| Nutrition: |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C |
| Nestform: |  |
mainly soil, sometimes also in dead wood |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest, Digfix |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Grassland with moss, grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, |
| Description: |  |
Serviformica fusca is often be found in open xeric and halfxeric Grassland habitats. They avoid aggressive conflicts with other antspecies. Through their fast movements they have a effictive recruitment for short-time feeding recources. Serviformica fusca is often a slaveant for Raptiformica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens. Very easy to keep, it is known as ideal beginner species. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: on warm days end of june to the mid of august (often in the late afternoon), founding: claustral (without feeding) but also Pleometrosis or Adoptions are possible. from Egg to adult worker approx.4 - 6 Weeks (depending on temperature). colonysize: approx. 500 to 2.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |