What kind of ant is this?

Help with identifying the species your ants

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SepAnts
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:58 am
Location: Belgium, Flanders

What kind of ant is this?

Post: # 41462Post SepAnts
Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:09 am

I cought this ant in a forest near heather in Belgium. It is about 9-10mm big, it looks like it is pretty energetic. I think it might be Formica but I don’t know further information...
Image

Thorond0r
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:50 am
Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Re: What kind of ant is this?

Post: # 41463Post Thorond0r
Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:17 am

Definitely a Formica sp.
I'm guessing sanguinea, but i can't be sure...

Be careful with these species, they are partly parasitic and need workers from other Formica genus to start their colony... Also some Formica species are protected (at least in the Netherlands, not sure about Belgium), so it might be illegal to keep her ;)

On a side note... Did you catch her this afternoon?
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

SepAnts
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:58 am
Location: Belgium, Flanders

Re: What kind of ant is this?

Post: # 41464Post SepAnts
Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:27 am

I caught her yesterday, so should I try adding some workers from where I found her? Or what should I do with her?

Thorond0r
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:50 am
Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Re: What kind of ant is this?

Post: # 41498Post Thorond0r
Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:35 pm

Wait a little longer for someone with more experience to ID her as mine alone is not trustworthy...
But if she is indeed sanguinea, if believe she needs like 5 or 6 workers of Formica fusca to help her start a colony.... Again this will have to be confirmed by someone more experienced than me ;)
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

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