The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Hello,

I found this Formica sp queen and was wondering if she is in fact a social parasite, I was thinking about Formica rufa/polyctena.
I caught her on 20-5-2018 20:00 on an old train track walking around right here: https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.6086746,5.4711344,3a,59.5y,87.17h,88.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqY1U6q1jNp5St4LjsdDXCg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
She is about 12mm long and I made some pictures of her.
Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/zgMXCf6
And if she is indeed a social parasite, how can I raise her? Best without the use of digging up a Formica nest because they are pretty hard to find in my area. I do sometimes see some Formica fusca walk on the train rails so I could use those. Any other tips/notes about these ants are also welcome.

Thank you in advance,

I would say Formica rufa, based on what I can see from the shape of the petiolar crest. When you're struggling to get host brood, I find it's easiest to place a flat rock (e.g. slate) snugly over the nest entrance of a Formica colony that isn't covered with grass. The ants will begin moving brood underneath the rock within a few days or a week to take advantage of the heat it absorbs. You can eventually lift it up and snag around 6-10 pupae, which is all a Formica social parasite will usually take.

Okay, thank you. I will definitly try the stone method and see if it works.