Formica (Serviformica) picea - Forest ant
| Latin Name: |  |
Formica (Serviformica) fusca |
| Trivialname: |  |
Grey-black slaveant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) in small basins they make easily use of their formicacid |
| Distribution: |  |
all above Europe |
| Habitat: |  |
prefers wet grassland, often in the wettest part of a bog |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne to polygyne (1or a few queens) |
| Queen: |  |
Size: approx. 12mm Colour: shiny black, brownred legs |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 4 - 8 mm Colour: shiny black, brownred legs, strong pilosity |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
- |
| Nutrition: |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C |
| Nestform: |  |
mainly in wet parts of moss or around grasstrunks |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest, Digfix |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: S - M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam, Humus |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Wetgrassland with moss, grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, cork |
| Description: |  |
Serviformica picea is often found in bogs and build thier nest below waterlevel. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: on warm days during july and august founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: approx. a few hundred Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |