Species comparison

Formica cinerea vs Pheidole pallidula

Side by side: difficulty, size, growth, climate, hibernation and nuptial flights, from the data and sources of each species sheet.

Head to head

Formica cinerea and Pheidole pallidula compared fact by fact
Formica cinereaPheidole pallidula
Keeping
Difficulty
Easier5/7

Intermediate

7/7

Advanced

Escape risk
High
High
Diet
SugarInsects
SugarInsectsSeeds
Best nests
Ytong nest · Sandwich nest · Acrylic nest
Acrylic nest · Naturalistic setup
Colony
Growth
Very fast
Very fast
Colony size
Reaches 10,000 workers
Reaches 1,000 workers
Workers
4–8 mm

All the same size

2–4 mm

majors up to 6 mm

Queen
8–11 mm
7–8 mm
Colony founding
Fully claustral

One or more queens

Fully claustral

One or more queens

Defense
Bites · Sprays formic acid
Bites
Climate
Nest temperature
21–27 °C
21–28 °C
Nest humidity
50–60 %
60–70 %
Hibernation
5–8 °C

Oct – Mar

12–16 °C

Nov – Mar

Nuptial flights
Jun – Aug
May – Aug
Native range
Europe, Asia
Europe, North Africa

Size to scale

  • Formica cinerea

    Workers · 4–8 mm
    Queen · 8–11 mm

  • Pheidole pallidula

    Workers · 2–4 mm
    Majors · ≤ 6 mm
    Queen · 7–8 mm
10 mm: both species are drawn at the same scale

Their year side by side

  • Formica cinerea : Hibernation: Oct – Mar, Nuptial flights: Jun – Aug

  • Pheidole pallidula : Hibernation: Nov – Mar, Nuptial flights: May – Aug

Months for temperate Europe and the Mediterranean. The weather decides the exact days, so flights can come earlier or later where you live.

How to tell them apart

Formica cinerea

Almost black workers with a silvery gray sheen, large eyes and dark reddish legs. They run very fast and on irregular paths, which makes them hard to follow.

  • Watch out Escapes are most likely during outworld maintenance, because the workers move so fast and irregularly: work calmly and keep an eye on every ant until the setup is closed again.
  • Tip A white Ytong nest suits this species well, because the almost black workers stand out against it and every chamber is easy to watch.

Pheidole pallidula

Light yellowish to reddish-brown workers of two kinds: small, quick minors and majors whose head looks far too big for their body. The majors carry strong, sharp jaws.

  • Tip Offer a few small seeds next to the sugar and insects: the big-headed majors crack them open so the whole colony can eat the soft part inside.
  • Tip They like consistently moist chambers. If the nest dries out too quickly, rearrange the setup so it holds moisture better: in a naturalistic setup, a piece of wood or a bark substrate helps.

More comparisons

Compare
with
Formica cinerea care guide Pheidole pallidula care guide

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