What to feed Formica

[ooper01]

Wondering what you Formica experts feed your Formica colonies. Mine seem pretty picky. I have sugar water always available, but they don't seem to like much else I feed them. I have tried dry cat food (crushed), wet cat food (they will take this sometimes), various breads & crackers, nectarine chunks. Any other suggestions?

Also, the colony I have seem to only produce brood in the Spring, then nothing the rest of the year. Is this normal for Formica?

[Batspiderfish]

Formicinae ants can't digest starch, so all those plant-based foods (excluding fruit) are going to be useless asides from sugars and fats. They eat insects and photosynthates. Melanogaster flies always seem to work, and mine particularly enjoy pieces of Tenebrio pupae.

Formica only seriously lay eggs from spring to mid-summer.

[Batspiderfish]

I believe Myrmicinae is the only subfamily in our area that will make serious use of foods like seeds and breads.

[notmyidea]

Melanogaster flies always seem to work

Mine loved those.