[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":369},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-fusca":3},{"species":4,"profile":238,"countryNames":277,"lookalikes":293,"similar":299,"posts":349},{"id":5,"authority":6,"colonyStructure":7,"confidence":8,"countries":11,"defense":27,"diet":30,"difficulty":33,"dryHumidity":34,"escapeRisk":10,"estimated":35,"experience":39,"extension":40,"finder":41,"founding":42,"growth":43,"guide":34,"hibernation":44,"hibernationMonths":45,"hibernationTemperature":48,"humidity":51,"image":54,"imageCredit":55,"imageHeight":59,"imageWidth":60,"interests":34,"keptSince":34,"legal":61,"lookalikes":64,"majorSize":34,"maxWorkers":68,"meta":69,"nests":70,"nuptialFlightMonths":74,"nuptialFlightTime":76,"nuptialFlightTriggers":77,"polymorphism":79,"queenSize":80,"regions":81,"relatedPosts":84,"reviewedAt":63,"scientificName":88,"sources":89,"stem":221,"subfamily":222,"temperature":223,"tribe":226,"workerSize":227,"__hash__":230,"slug":231,"genus":232,"nickname":233,"aliases":234,"tagline":237},"species\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-fusca.yml","Linnaeus, 1758","facultative",{"biology":9,"husbandry":10,"nuptialFlight":10},"high","medium",[12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26],"GB","FR","BE","NL","DE","CH","AT","CZ","PL","DK","SE","NO","FI","EE","RU",[28,29],"bite","acid",[31,32],"sugar","insects","3",null,[36,37,38],"workerSize","queenSize","maxWorkers","compiled","yml",false,"claustral","moderate","required",[46,47],10,3,[49,50],5,8,[52,53],50,60,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-fusca.jpg",{"author":56,"license":57,"url":58},"Jonghyun Park","CC BY 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations\u002F396084478",800,1200,{"status":62,"checked":63},"restricted","2026-10-11",[65,66,67],"Formica lemani","Formica cinerea","Lasius niger",2000,{},[71,72,73],"ytong","naturalistic","sandwich",[75,50],6,"afternoon",[78],"heat","monomorphic",[50,46],[82,83],"europe","asia",[85,86,87],"how-to-hibernate-your-ants","what-to-do-after-catching-your-first-queen-ant","how-to-make-a-test-tube-setup-tutorial","Formica fusca",[90,96,104,108,112,117,121,125,129,133,139,143,148,152,156,160,164,168,172,176,180,184,188,192,197,201,205,209,213,217],{"type":91,"title":92,"url":93,"covers":94},"reference","AntCat: Formica fusca Linnaeus, 1758 (the catalog of the ants of the world)","https:\u002F\u002Fantcat.org\u002Fcatalog\u002F437477",[95],"taxonomy",{"type":97,"title":98,"url":99,"covers":100},"book","Collingwood (1979), Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8: The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, treatment of Formica fusca (Plazi TreatmentBank)","https:\u002F\u002Ftreatment.plazi.org\u002Fid\u002F0382512000C3A485D270E4D29FE546C8",[95,101,102,103],"biology","distribution","nuptialFlight",{"type":97,"title":105,"url":106,"covers":107},"Collingwood (1979), Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8: The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, treatment of Formica lemani, the look-alike of Formica fusca (Plazi TreatmentBank)","https:\u002F\u002Ftreatment.plazi.org\u002Fid\u002F5226FD4F4CECB42C99A56E2751BB60BF",[95,101,102],{"type":97,"title":109,"url":110,"covers":111},"Collingwood (1979), Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8: The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, treatment of Formica sanguinea, the main slave-maker of Formica fusca (Plazi TreatmentBank)","https:\u002F\u002Ftreatment.plazi.org\u002Fid\u002F7A1AA6D5F2E44E7878EA9B03CF9208A3",[101],{"type":113,"title":114,"url":115,"covers":116},"paper","Hannonen, Helanterä and Sundström (2004), Molecular Ecology 13: Habitat age, breeding system and kinship in the ant Formica fusca","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1111\u002Fj.1365-294x.2004.02136.x",[101],{"type":113,"title":118,"url":119,"covers":120},"Włodarczyk and Szczepaniak (2017), Journal of Insect Physiology 96: Facultative slave-making ants Formica sanguinea label their slaves with own recognition cues instead of employing the strategy of chemical mimicry","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1016\u002Fj.jinsphys.2016.10.016",[101],{"type":91,"title":122,"url":123,"covers":124},"BWARS: Formica fusca (large black ant)","https:\u002F\u002Fbwars.com\u002Fant\u002Fformicidae\u002Fformicinae\u002Fformica-fusca",[101,102,103],{"type":91,"title":126,"url":127,"covers":128},"Catalogue of Life: Formica fusca Linnaeus, 1758","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.catalogueoflife.org\u002Fdata\u002Ftaxon\u002F6JH7P",[95],{"type":91,"title":130,"url":131,"covers":132},"GBIF: Formica fusca Linnaeus, 1758, occurrence records by country","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gbif.org\u002Fspecies\u002F1314881",[102],{"type":134,"title":135,"url":136,"covers":137},"careSheet","Ameisenhaltung.de: Artenverzeichnis, Formica fusca","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenhaltung.de\u002Fartenverzeichnis\u002Fentry\u002F210-formica-fusca\u002F",[138,101,103],"husbandry",{"type":134,"title":140,"url":141,"covers":142},"Antstore: Formica (Serviformica) fusca","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antstore.net\u002Fshop\u002Fen\u002Fants\u002FAnts-from-Central-Europe\u002FFormica-Serviformica-fusca.html",[138,101,103],{"type":144,"title":145,"url":146,"covers":147},"forum","Ameisenforum.de: Artbeschreibungen und Steckbriefe, Formica fusca (swarming dates and hours, colony size, founding)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fartbeschreibungen-steckbriefe\u002Fformica-fusca-t30383.html",[138,101,103],{"type":134,"title":149,"url":150,"covers":151},"Formiculture: Care Sheet, Formica fusca (dspdrew)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.formiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F7251-care-sheet-formica-fusca\u002F",[138,103],{"type":134,"title":153,"url":154,"covers":155},"FormicaMarket: Formica fusca care guide","https:\u002F\u002Fformicamarket.com\u002Fen\u002Fant-database\u002Fformica-fusca\u002F",[138,103],{"type":134,"title":157,"url":158,"covers":159},"Ants R Us: Formica fusca starter kit","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antsrus.com\u002Fproduct-page\u002Fformica-fusca",[138],{"type":134,"title":161,"url":162,"covers":163},"AntsDavey: Formica fusca, about the species","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antsdavey.co.uk\u002Fproduct-page\u002Fformca-fusca-with-eggs",[138],{"type":134,"title":165,"url":166,"covers":167},"Ant Shack: Formica fusca (Silky Ant) care sheet","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ant-shack.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fant-care-sheets-1\u002Fformica-fusca-silky-ant-care-sheet",[138],{"type":134,"title":169,"url":170,"covers":171},"Antkeeping.info: Formica fusca","https:\u002F\u002Fantkeeping.info\u002Fants\u002FFormica-fusca\u002F",[101,103],{"type":91,"title":173,"url":174,"covers":175},"Wikipedia: Formica fusca","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FFormica_fusca",[95,101,103],{"type":144,"title":177,"url":178,"covers":179},"Ameisenforum.de: Formica fusca keeping report Maddio (colony with several queens, Ytong nest, winter rest in an unheated garage)","https:\u002F\u002Fameisenforum.de\u002Fformica-serviformica-fusca-maddio-s-haltungserfahrungen-t55581.html",[138],{"type":144,"title":181,"url":182,"covers":183},"Ameisenforum.de: Formica fusca keeping report Aaron (young colony, gradual cooling for the winter rest)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fformica\u002Fformica-fusca-haltungsbericht-aaron-t50145.html",[138],{"type":144,"title":185,"url":186,"covers":187},"Ameisenforum.de: Formica fusca keeping report Ina H. (founding queen that ate her larvae after repeated disturbance)","https:\u002F\u002Fameisenforum.de\u002Fformica\u002Fformica-fusca-haltungserfahrungen-t44579.html",[138],{"type":144,"title":189,"url":190,"covers":191},"Antstore forum: Formica fusca and Formica sanguinea journal (a fusca colony with one queen and ten workers reached over 150 workers in its first year, 2012)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antstore.net\u002Fforum\u002Fpost142118.html",[138],{"type":91,"title":193,"url":194,"covers":195},"EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Implementing Regulation 2016\u002F1141, consolidated)","https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Feli\u002Freg_impl\u002F2016\u002F1141\u002Foj",[196],"legal",{"type":91,"title":198,"url":199,"covers":200},"Czech Republic: Decree 395\u002F1992 Sb., Annex III, list of specially protected animals (\"mravenec - Formica spp.\": every Formica species is protected as endangered)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zakonyprolidi.cz\u002Fcs\u002F1992-395",[196],{"type":91,"title":202,"url":203,"covers":204},"Czech Republic: Act 114\u002F1992 Sb. on nature and landscape protection, section 50 (forbids catching, keeping, transporting and selling specially protected animals without an exemption)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zakonyprolidi.cz\u002Fcs\u002F1992-114",[196],{"type":91,"title":206,"url":207,"covers":208},"Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV), Anlage 1: protected species in Germany","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesetze-im-internet.de\u002Fbartschv_2005\u002Fanlage_1.html",[196],{"type":91,"title":210,"url":211,"covers":212},"Poland: Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 16 December 2016 on species protection of animals (Dz.U. 2016 item 2183; among the Formica ants only six mound-building wood ants are listed)","https:\u002F\u002Feli.gov.pl\u002Feli\u002FDU\u002F2016\u002F2183\u002Fogl",[196],{"type":91,"title":214,"url":215,"covers":216},"MITECO: Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species, arthropods","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miteco.gob.es\u002Fes\u002Fbiodiversidad\u002Ftemas\u002Fconservacion-de-especies\u002Fespecies-exoticas-invasoras\u002Fce_eei_artropodos_nc.html",[196],{"type":91,"title":218,"url":219,"covers":220},"Japan Ministry of the Environment: designated invasive alien species under the Invasive Alien Species Act","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.env.go.jp\u002Fnature\u002Fintro\u002F2outline\u002Flist.html",[196],"species\u002Fformica-fusca","Formicinae",[224,225],21,25,"Formicini",[228,229],4,7,"ygYMn4Z0dgHrLOX99PySqq0MiM5cRSRkTvkdk80KsrA","formica-fusca","Formica","Silky ant",[235,236],"Dusky ant","Large black ant","A shy, quick-footed black ant that forgives beginner mistakes and is the classic host of slave-making ants.",{"id":239,"title":240,"aliases":234,"body":241,"description":245,"extension":248,"faqs":249,"identification":259,"language":260,"meta":261,"navigation":262,"nickname":233,"notes":263,"path":274,"seo":275,"stem":221,"tagline":237,"__hash__":276},"speciesProfiles\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-fusca.md","Formica Fusca",{"type":242,"value":243,"toc":244},"minimark",[],{"title":245,"searchDepth":246,"depth":246,"links":247},"",2,[],"md",[250,253,256],{"question":251,"answer":252},"Why is Formica fusca called a slave ant?","Because it is the usual victim of slave-making ants, not because it enslaves anyone. Formica sanguinea and Polyergus rufescens raid its nests for pupae and raise the hatched workers as helpers, and every fusca-group species of Fennoscandia has been found in mixed colonies with Formica sanguinea. Its German name, Grauschwarze Sklavenameise, means gray-black slave ant and points to the same habit.",{"question":254,"answer":255},"Where does Formica fusca nest in the wild?","Mostly in the ground, in banks and under stones, and also in old tree stumps and dead wood. It likes dry, open and lightly shaded places such as hedgerows, woodland edges, heaths, clearings and the edges of cities, and its colonies are usually modest, from a few hundred to about two thousand workers.",{"question":257,"answer":258},"What does Formica fusca eat in the wild?","The workers hunt small insects on their own, and they also drink aphid honeydew and the nectar of plants. They can occupy an aphid colony for a long time and defend it, and they quickly exploit short-lived food sources, sometimes even taking food from Lasius niger workers on their way home.","Dull black to dark gray workers with brownish legs that run fast and forage alone, bigger and longer-legged than Lasius niger and less silvery than Formica cinerea. Formica lemani is almost identical and only a microscope (hairs on the pronotum and the legs) tells them apart, so a colony sold as Formica fusca is a best guess within the fusca group, and this sheet describes the species in the strict sense.","en",{},true,[264,267,270,272],{"kind":265,"text":266},"tip","Give the nest a humid chamber and keep the outworld dry. The species comes from dry, open ground, and keepers report that a moist nest with a dry arena works well.",{"kind":268,"text":269},"watchOut","Leave a founding queen alone as much as you can. Keepers report queens that ate almost all their larvae after repeated checks and vibrations, so keep the tube dark, still and closed until the first workers appear.",{"kind":268,"text":271},"Colonies are skittish: a slight vibration sends the workers running around with the brood. Put the setup on a stable surface and give it room and ventilation, because the workers spray formic acid in cramped containers.",{"kind":265,"text":273},"Do not worry when the queen stops laying in late summer: the colony normally rests through the winter without any brood. Cool it down gradually in autumn, once the last brood has hatched and the workers slow down.","\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-fusca",{"description":245},"74wf0mN7RIGJY0R8ARsdb74IPQMViMldI_lkC25orcE",[278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285,286,287,288,289,290,291,292],"Austria","Belgium","Czechia","Denmark","Estonia","Finland","France","Germany","Netherlands","Norway","Poland","Russia","Sweden","Switzerland","United Kingdom",[294,295,297],{"name":65,"slug":34},{"name":66,"slug":296},"formica-cinerea",{"name":67,"slug":298},"lasius-niger",[300,315,333],{"slug":296,"scientificName":66,"genus":232,"nickname":245,"aliases":301,"tagline":302,"image":303,"experience":304,"guide":305,"difficulty":306,"workerSize":307,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":308,"temperature":310,"hibernation":44,"hibernationTemperature":312,"hibernationBand":313,"sizeClass":10,"founding":42,"colonyStructure":7,"regions":314},[],"Big, fast and nervous: a formic acid sprayer that can reach 10,000 workers.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fformica_cinerea_colony_into_ytong_nest_2.jpeg","firstHand","how-to-care-for-formica-cinerea","5",[228,50],[50,309],11,[224,311],27,[49,50],"cold",[82,83],{"slug":316,"scientificName":317,"genus":232,"nickname":318,"aliases":319,"tagline":322,"image":323,"experience":39,"guide":34,"difficulty":324,"workerSize":325,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":327,"temperature":328,"hibernation":44,"hibernationTemperature":330,"hibernationBand":313,"sizeClass":10,"founding":331,"colonyStructure":7,"regions":332},"formica-sanguinea","Formica sanguinea","Blood-red ant",[320,321],"Blood-red slave-making ant","Robber ant","A bold red-and-black raider that steals the pupae of other Formica to raise as helpers, and a project for keepers who already know the basics.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fformica-sanguinea.jpg","6",[75,326],9,[326,309],[224,329],26,[49,50],"parasitic",[82,83],{"slug":334,"scientificName":335,"genus":336,"nickname":245,"aliases":337,"tagline":340,"image":341,"experience":304,"guide":342,"difficulty":33,"workerSize":343,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":344,"temperature":345,"hibernation":44,"hibernationTemperature":346,"hibernationBand":313,"sizeClass":10,"founding":42,"colonyStructure":347,"regions":348},"lasius-emarginatus","Lasius emarginatus","Lasius",[338,339],"ManhattAnt","Central European bicolored ant","A small, fast-growing Lasius with a reddish thorax that loves to dig tunnels.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Flasius_emarginatus_inside_test_tube_6.jpeg","how-to-care-for-lasius-emarginatus",[47,49],[229,326],[224,311],[49,50],"monogyne",[82],[350,357,363],{"id":351,"title":352,"description":353,"image":354,"categoryText":355,"path":356},"blog\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants.md","How To Hibernate Your Ants - Hibernation Tutorial","In this guide, we’re going to talk about hibernation: What is it? Why do ants need hibernation? Should I hibernate my ants? Let's see!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_hibernation_guide.png","Ant Keeping Basics","\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants",{"id":358,"title":359,"description":360,"image":361,"categoryText":355,"path":362},"blog\u002Fwhat-to-do-after-catching-your-first-queen-ant.md","What To Do After Catching Your First Queen Ant!","In this short guide, you’re going to learn what steps you need to take after catching your very first queen ant! Let's get into it!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbrumaants_miniatura_what_to_do_after_catching_a_queen_ant.png","\u002Fwhat-to-do-after-catching-your-first-queen-ant",{"id":364,"title":365,"description":366,"image":367,"categoryText":355,"path":368},"blog\u002Fhow-to-make-a-test-tube-setup-tutorial.md","How To Make a Test Tube Setup - Ant Keeping Basics","In this tutorial you will learn how to make a test tube setup, the best way to create the optimal environment for a newly mated queen ant!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_test_tube_setup_tutorial_new.png","\u002Fhow-to-make-a-test-tube-setup-tutorial",1791900224787]