Formica subsericea

[AntsInMB]

I have two Formica subsericea queens. One has 4 workers and the other 6. Anyways I read that this species of Formica is polygynous, I wondering if they will still join colonies or fight to the death.
Thanks in advance!

[SolenopsisKeeper]

I have two Formica subsericea queens. One has 4 workers and the other 6. Anyways I read that this species of Formica is polygynous, I wondering if they will still join colonies or fight to the death.
Thanks in advance!

I thought they were polgynos by founding together, but I may be wrong

[AntsInMB]

I think your right. I also read something that said they were only polygynous by letting old queens back into the colony after their nuptial flight. Anyways I’m really just wondering if I can combine them with workers or not.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

I think your right. I also read something that said they were only polygynous by letting old queens back into the colony after their nuptial flight. Anyways I’m really just wondering if I can combine them with workers or not.

I don’t think so, but you may try if you wish. They still get 10s of thousands of workers with one queen, though so…

[AntsInMB]

I can tell that they do by just looking at the 30 ant colonies of these in my yard here in Manitoba.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

I can tell that they do by just looking at the 30 ant colonies of these in my yard here in Manitoba.

Btw are you sure it is subsericea? Fusca is also up North. I am not aware of what the difference is, but it is probably on a key somewhere.

[AntsInMB]

I’ll check

[AntsInMB]

Here are two reasons why I believe my two very small colonies are Formica subsericea.

1. On ant maps it shows that Formica fusca are dubious here in Manitoba, meaning it’s doubtful that they are here.

2. I was looking at photos of Formica fusca and the queens did not look like the ones I have. Mine, have a more muscly looking thorax. Meanwhile, Formica fusca queen photos have a smaller less muscly looking thorax.

Hope this explains why I believe they are Formica subsericea. I will continue to research, just in case it is a different species.

Thank you for all your help!

Ps. I might be wrong on some info.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

Here are two reasons why I believe my two very small colonies are Formica subsericea.

1. On ant maps it shows that Formica fusca are dubious here in Manitoba, meaning it’s doubtful that they are here.

2. I was looking at photos of Formica fusca and the queens did not look like the ones I have. Mine, have a more muscly looking thorax. Meanwhile, Formica fusca queen photos have a smaller less muscly looking thorax.

Hope this explains why I believe they are Formica subsericea. I will continue to research, just in case it is a different species.

Thank you for all your help!

Ps. I might be wrong on some info.

Your right, Formica Fusca is not in North America, but is listed as another Formica, Formica (Subsecens? Not sure exact species name). Not sure if it is on antwiki yet, as it’s not on ant web yet.

Here’s a link to that ant, it’s just I still refer to it as Fusca.

https://bugguide.net/node/view/1291115