Silky field ant (Formica fusca)

Short answers

Silky field ant: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Nest from 12×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm.

Silky field ant: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C, at night room temperature is enough.

Silky field ant: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Silky field ant: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: queen up to 20 years.

Silky field ant: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C

Night temperature

room temperature is enough

Humidity

nest 50–70 %, foraging area 30–50 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

nest from 12×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm

Substrate

An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a sand-loam foraging arena

Feeding

Food

Sugar water plus insects

Feeding interval

sugar always available, insects 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

worker 4–7 mm, queen 9–11 mm

Life expectancy

queen up to 20 years

Origin

Europe

Protection status

—

Brumation

Essential: October to March at 5–8 °C

Cohabitation

Colony per enclosure. In the wild weakly polygynous (averaging just over three queens per nest), while ant-keepers usually keep it as a single monogynous founding colony. These animals naturally live in groups. Never combine two colonies - unfamiliar animals are not readily accepted.

Notes

Fast development, and a very active outworld. NOT to be confused with the mound-building wood ants (Formica rufa and relatives) — those are protected and may not be traded.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Silky field ant (Formica fusca) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Asian carpenter ant (Camponotus nicobarensis) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex octospinosus) – Experts
• Nylander's acorn ant (Temnothorax nylanderi) – Beginner
• European fire ant (Manica rubida) – Intermediate
• Brown-black carpenter ant (Camponotus ligniperda) – Intermediate
• Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) – Beginner
• Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Atta cephalotes) – Experts

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Silky field ant (Formica fusca) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (nest from 12×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm), substrate (An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a sand-loam foraging arena), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.