Ant ID - Calgary, Alberta, Canada

[justrws]

Size: Haven't gotten a measurement yet.
When: July 16th, ~4:00 pm MST
Where: Next to my house, was running on a rock next to the lawn. Had to coax her out of the lawn, back onto the rock and then onto my hand. I'm not sure if she didn't have good grip or was just letting go as I had keep putting my hands one under the other as she kept falling off every few seconds. Carrying her far enough that I could grab a container before she got away was fun.
Behaviour: She was very active after being put in the container and later in the test tube. If she was put into bright light she got super excited and running around. As soon as she was shaded (but not in the dark) she became very still wherever she happened to be in the container/tube at the time. Put her back in the sun and after a few seconds she would get super excited again.

Picture(s):
https://imgur.com/a/c4Tiod0
https://imgur.com/a/DzzdBjK
https://imgur.com/a/BqdBfV1

Additionally: Leaving her in the test tube, shaded she actually started pulling at the cotton at the end. Once she was in complete dark she stopped. I checked on her 2 days later, no eggs. While checking on her, shaded, she started running around the tube again. Odd behaviour in comparison to my Carpenter queen who stayed very still and slow moving once caught.

[antperson24]

Size: Haven't gotten a measurement yet.
When: July 16th, ~4:00 pm MST
Where: Next to my house, was running on a rock next to the lawn. Had to coax her out of the lawn, back onto the rock and then onto my hand. I'm not sure if she didn't have good grip or was just letting go as I had keep putting my hands one under the other as she kept falling off every few seconds. Carrying her far enough that I could grab a container before she got away was fun.
Behaviour: She was very active after being put in the container and later in the test tube. If she was put into bright light she got super excited and running around. As soon as she was shaded (but not in the dark) she became very still wherever she happened to be in the container/tube at the time. Put her back in the sun and after a few seconds she would get super excited again.

Picture(s):
https://imgur.com/a/c4Tiod0
https://imgur.com/a/DzzdBjK
https://imgur.com/a/BqdBfV1

Additionally: Leaving her in the test tube, shaded she actually started pulling at the cotton at the end. Once she was in complete dark she stopped. I checked on her 2 days later, no eggs. While checking on her, shaded, she started running around the tube again. Odd behaviour in comparison to my Carpenter queen who stayed very still and slow moving once caught.

She is a Formica species from the fusca group. Running around when disturbed is normal behavior, just make sure you don't bother her too much.

[justrws]

Yeah, she's been covered, in the garage, since the 16th. I'll give her another week before checking on her again. Thanks.

[justrws]

She is a Formica species from the fusca group. Running around when disturbed is normal behavior, just make sure you don't bother her too much.

Wikipedia says that 'Fusca' is found in Europe, Asia and Africa. I'm in Canada. Maybe a different variant?

[antperson24]

She is a Formica species from the fusca group. Running around when disturbed is normal behavior, just make sure you don't bother her too much.

Wikipedia says that 'Fusca' is found in Europe, Asia and Africa. I'm in Canada. Maybe a different variant?

You are right that Formica fusca is not found in north America, but what I said is fusca group. There are some species of this group found in north America. The fusca group includes F. fusca, F. subsericea, F. podzolica, and more. Here is the AntWiki page for this species group: https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Category:Fusca_group

[justrws]

Well, I ended up releasing her. 2 weeks, covered, undisturbed and she hadn't done anything. My fledgling Camponotus 'colony' has some nanitics now so at least I have them.