Formicinae
Expert
Formica rufa
Red wood ant
Builder of the iconic large mound nests found in European forests. Legally protected in many countries, so captive colonies are usually the offspring of already-established captive lineages, not wild-caught.
Origin
Northern & Central Europe
Worker size
4–9 mm
Optimal temp
20–25°C
Humidity
60%
Care notes
Protected species in several EU countries — wild collection is illegal. Requires temporary-social-parasite founding via a Formica fusca host colony.
Diet
Aphid honeydew and large amounts of insect prey collected via mass foraging trails.