Polyergus rufescens
| Latin Name: |  |
Polyergus rufescens |
| Trivialname: |  |
Slave-maker ant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) in small basins they make easily use of their formicacid |
| Distribiution: |  |
from the atlanticcost of Westeurope to western China, In Centraleurope only spotted Populations |
| Habitate: |  |
extremely thermophil, prefers sandy areas (e.g riverbeds, Forestedges), dry to semi-dry Grassland |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyn |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 8 - 10mm Colour: deep red( western Population) to reddish brown (eastern Population) |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 7 - 8mm Colour: deep red( western Population) to reddish brown (eastern Population) |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 6 - 7mm Colour: black |
| Nutrion: |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in soil or under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/ Plaster, Digfix |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand - Loam Arena: Sand - Loam |
| Planting: |  |
like grassland |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Treeneedels |
| Description: |  |
Polyergus rufescens is socialparasitic Ant which is associated with many related ants of the subgenus Serviformica. This is the only european specie of the genus as most species are found in Nothamerica. Most They raid the pupae of the slaveants in their nest so they will behave like the slave-makers. These parasitism is obligate. Through the loss of suitable habitats these ants are highly endangerned in many places. The mainhostspecies are Formica cunicularia, Formica fusca, Formica rufibarbis, Formica clara, Formica gagates and Formica cinerea. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: on warm day mornings of mid - june to the end of july founding: dulotic as an obligat slavemaker in different Serviformica species development: Egg - Larvea: 12 days Larvea - Pupea: 9 - 12 days Pupea - Imago: 20 - 23 days colonysize: up to 2.000 Individuals plus approx. 90% slaveants |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
