Queen ID help

[XrayCinder]

Hello,
I’m 9 years old and finally found a queen in the wild. Can you help identify the species so I can pick the best formicarium?

Size:11mm
When: July, 31 noon
Where: Missouri, USA, house in the country, in chlorine pool.
Appearance:black, segmented abdomen
Behaviour: an hour after capture (not yet in test tube) she started tucking her abdomen underneath her thorax, laid eggs 5 days after capture.
Picture(s): https://imgur.com/a/pM7nQoS
Additionally: test tube is about 1 inch in diameter. She has lost 3 out of 4 wings as of day 6

[antperson24]

Hello,
I’m 9 years old and finally found a queen in the wild. Can you help identify the species so I can pick the best formicarium?

Size:11mm
When: July, 31 noon
Where: Missouri, USA, house in the country, in chlorine pool.
Appearance:black, segmented abdomen
Behaviour: an hour after capture (not yet in test tube) she started tucking her abdomen underneath her thorax, laid eggs 5 days after capture.
Picture(s): https://imgur.com/a/pM7nQoS
Additionally: test tube is about 1 inch in diameter. She has lost 3 out of 4 wings as of day 6

She is from the fusca species group of the genus Formica. Congrats on your find!

[XrayCinder]

Thank you! Any advice on the hybrid mini vs the hybrid formica? We are planning to get the hybrid Formica unless it is too big for a new colony.

[RubyAntKeeper77]

I would suggest the mini until 75-150 workers.

And instead of the AntsCanada stoppers use cotton.(less escapes)