[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":370},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax":3},{"species":4,"profile":232,"countryNames":270,"lookalikes":286,"similar":292,"posts":349},{"id":5,"authority":6,"colonyStructure":7,"confidence":8,"countries":11,"defense":27,"diet":30,"difficulty":33,"dryHumidity":34,"escapeRisk":9,"estimated":35,"experience":40,"extension":41,"finder":42,"founding":43,"growth":44,"guide":34,"hibernation":45,"hibernationMonths":46,"hibernationTemperature":49,"humidity":52,"image":55,"imageCredit":56,"imageHeight":60,"imageWidth":61,"interests":34,"keptSince":34,"legal":62,"lookalikes":65,"majorSize":34,"maxWorkers":34,"meta":69,"nests":70,"nuptialFlightMonths":74,"nuptialFlightTime":76,"nuptialFlightTriggers":77,"polymorphism":79,"queenSize":80,"regions":83,"relatedPosts":88,"reviewedAt":64,"scientificName":92,"sources":93,"stem":216,"subfamily":217,"temperature":218,"tribe":221,"workerSize":222,"__hash__":225,"slug":226,"genus":227,"nickname":228,"aliases":229,"tagline":231},"species\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax.yml","(Latreille, 1798)","facultative",{"biology":9,"husbandry":10,"nuptialFlight":9},"high","medium",[12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26],"FR","DE","IT","CH","AT","ES","GB","NL","BE","PL","CZ","HU","UA","GR","TR",[28,29],"bite","sting",[31,32],"insects","sugar","7",null,[36,37,38,39],"humidity","hibernationTemperature","workerSize","queenSize","compiled","yml",false,"claustral","moderate","recommended",[47,48],11,2,[50,51],5,10,[53,54],50,70,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax.jpg",{"author":57,"license":58,"url":59},"Philipp Hoenle (myrmecophil)","CC0 1.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations\u002F154533981",800,1200,{"status":63,"checked":64},"free","2026-10-11",[66,67,68],"Solenopsis juliae","Tetramorium caespitum","Plagiolepis pygmaea",{},[71,72,73],"acrylic","ytong","testTube",[75,51],8,"afternoon",[78],"heat","monomorphic",[81,82],4,6.5,[84,85,86,87],"europe","northAfrica","middleEast","asia",[89,90,91],"what-to-do-after-catching-your-first-queen-ant","how-to-make-a-test-tube-setup-tutorial","ytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest","Solenopsis fugax",[94,102,108,112,118,123,127,131,135,139,143,147,151,155,159,163,167,171,175,179,183,187,191,195,200,204,208,212],{"type":95,"title":96,"url":97,"covers":98},"paper","Csősz, Seifert, László, Yusupov and Herczeg (2023), ZooKeys 1187: Broadly sympatric occurrence of two thief ant species Solenopsis fugax and S. juliae in the East European Pontic-Caspian region (neotype of S. fugax, true cleptobiont that also scavenges, tends aphids and hunts soil animals, microgynes and macrogynes)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.3897\u002Fzookeys.1187.105866",[99,100,101],"taxonomy","biology","distribution",{"type":103,"title":104,"url":105,"covers":106},"reference","BWARS: Solenopsis fugax (Orledge 2020, after Collingwood 1979 and Seifert 1996: raids through narrow tunnels, mating flights in September and October, claustral founding or budding)","https:\u002F\u002Fbwars.com\u002Fant\u002Fformicidae\u002Fmyrmicinae\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax",[100,101,107],"nuptialFlight",{"type":95,"title":109,"url":110,"covers":111},"Romita, Foti, Principato and Stingeni (2018), Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia: Generalized papular-purpuric eruption due to Solenopsis fugax bites (case report of a house infestation, venom with piperidine alkaloids)","https:\u002F\u002Fpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Farticles\u002FPMC6063111\u002F",[100],{"type":113,"title":114,"url":115,"covers":116},"careSheet","formicarium.it: Scheda Solenopsis fugax","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.formicarium.it\u002Fformiche-italiane\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax\u002F",[117,100,107,101],"husbandry",{"type":119,"title":120,"url":121,"covers":122},"forum","Formiculture: Founding of European thief ants (Solenopsis fugax) in different substrates (60 queens that survived the winter, about 30 percent raised workers, soil in the tube helped, workers not dimorphic, stings itched for a week)","https:\u002F\u002Fformiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F20263-founding-of-european-thief-ants-solenopsis-fugax-in-different-substrates",[117,100],{"type":119,"title":124,"url":125,"covers":126},"Formiculture: Solenopsis fugax journal by schafro (seven queens caught after a flight on 12 September, three survived the winter, first worker in June)","https:\u002F\u002Fformiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F2201-solenopsis-fugax-journal-updated-2362016",[117,107],{"type":119,"title":128,"url":129,"covers":130},"formicarium.it forum: Solenopsis fugax, Diario di LeoZap89 (queen caught in September, cellar winter, first workers in April, nest dug through, advice from a three-year keeper)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=13168",[117,100],{"type":119,"title":132,"url":133,"covers":134},"formicarium.it forum: Nido parallelo per Solenopsis fugax (queen founding in a plaster tunnel, colony that never came out to feed died after a year)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=19",[117,100],{"type":119,"title":136,"url":137,"covers":138},"formicarium.it forum: Solenopsis fugax (zambon method, plastic cap with pinholes against a cotton plug, one queen with about 120 workers a year after the flight)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=4814",[117],{"type":119,"title":140,"url":141,"covers":142},"formicarium.it forum: Prima esperienza, errori e dubbi (queen found in October or November, species not confirmed, cool cellar winter, eggs in spring, first workers in May)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=8218",[117,107],{"type":119,"title":144,"url":145,"covers":146},"formicarium.it forum: Deposizione Solenopsis fugax (many queens die after laying, delicate founding)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=6920",[117],{"type":119,"title":148,"url":149,"covers":150},"formicarium.it forum: Fondazione Solenopsis fugax di gig (queens in tubes with soil, winter losses)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=5528",[117],{"type":113,"title":152,"url":153,"covers":154},"Antstore: Solenopsis fugax (thief ant)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antstore.net\u002Fshop\u002Fen\u002Fants\u002FAnts-from-South-Europe\u002FSolenopsis-fugax.html",[117,100,107],{"type":113,"title":156,"url":157,"covers":158},"Ameisenhaltung.de: Artenverzeichnis, Solenopsis fugax","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenhaltung.de\u002Fartenverzeichnis\u002Fentry\u002F314-solenopsis-fugax\u002F",[117,100,107],{"type":113,"title":160,"url":161,"covers":162},"Hormigueando: Ficha de cria de Solenopsis fugax","https:\u002F\u002Fhormigueando.com\u002Ffichas-de-cria\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax\u002F",[117,107],{"type":113,"title":164,"url":165,"covers":166},"FormicaMarket: Solenopsis fugax care guide","https:\u002F\u002Fformicamarket.com\u002Fen\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax",[117,107],{"type":113,"title":168,"url":169,"covers":170},"AntScout: Solenopsis fugax (care sheet compiled from the literature)","https:\u002F\u002Fantscout.com\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax",[117,100,107],{"type":119,"title":172,"url":173,"covers":174},"Formiculture: Thieves during the day (queens collected in Germany on 7 September, confused with Tetramorium)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.formiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F22514-thieves-during-the-day-the-public-pool-girls\u002F",[107],{"type":103,"title":176,"url":177,"covers":178},"AntFlights: Solenopsis fugax, 19 flight records (11 in September, peak around 15:00, 19 to 31 °C)","https:\u002F\u002Fantflights.com\u002Fstats\u002Fflights\u002FSolenopsis\u002Ffugax",[107],{"type":103,"title":180,"url":181,"covers":182},"AntCat: Solenopsis fugax (Latreille, 1798), valid species of the Myrmicinae","https:\u002F\u002Fantcat.org\u002Fcatalog\u002F447718",[99],{"type":103,"title":184,"url":185,"covers":186},"AntWiki: Solenopsis fugax (country list)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antwiki.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSolenopsis_fugax",[99,101],{"type":103,"title":188,"url":189,"covers":190},"Antkeeping.info: Solenopsis fugax (country list and sizes taken from AntWiki)","https:\u002F\u002Fantkeeping.info\u002Fants\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax\u002F",[99,101,107],{"type":103,"title":192,"url":193,"covers":194},"GBIF: Solenopsis fugax (Latreille, 1798), occurrence records by country","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gbif.org\u002Fspecies\u002F5035204",[99,101],{"type":103,"title":196,"url":197,"covers":198},"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",[199],"legal",{"type":103,"title":201,"url":202,"covers":203},"Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022\u002F1203, which added three fire ants to the Union list: Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri (Solenopsis fugax is not listed)","https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Feli\u002Freg_impl\u002F2022\u002F1203\u002Foj",[199],{"type":103,"title":205,"url":206,"covers":207},"Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV), Anlage 1: protected species in Germany (only Formica among the ants)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesetze-im-internet.de\u002Fbartschv_2005\u002Fanlage_1.html",[199],{"type":103,"title":209,"url":210,"covers":211},"MITECO: Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species, arthropods (only Solenopsis invicta among the Solenopsis)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miteco.gob.es\u002Fen\u002Fbiodiversidad\u002Ftemas\u002Fconservacion-de-especies\u002Fespecies-exoticas-invasoras\u002Fce_eei_artropodos_nc.html",[199],{"type":103,"title":213,"url":214,"covers":215},"Japan Ministry of the Environment: list of designated invasive alien species (four Solenopsis species groups designated, and a species-name certificate is needed to import any Solenopsis)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.env.go.jp\u002Fnature\u002Fintro\u002F2outline\u002Flist.html",[199],"species\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax","Myrmicinae",[219,220],21,28,"Solenopsidini",[223,224],1.5,2.5,"_7aIIUaDY3nr1NlF7glR8NQLkf-Y0wNmZyX6f8XzkNs","solenopsis-fugax","Solenopsis","Thief ant",[230],"European thief ant","A tiny underground thief that tunnels into the nests of bigger ants to steal their brood, and slips through almost any gap.",{"id":233,"title":234,"aliases":229,"body":235,"description":239,"extension":241,"faqs":242,"identification":252,"language":253,"meta":254,"navigation":255,"nickname":228,"notes":256,"path":267,"seo":268,"stem":216,"tagline":231,"__hash__":269},"speciesProfiles\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax.md","Solenopsis Fugax",{"type":236,"value":237,"toc":238},"minimark",[],{"title":239,"searchDepth":48,"depth":48,"links":240},"",[],"md",[243,246,249],{"question":244,"answer":245},"Why is Solenopsis fugax called the thief ant?","In nature the workers dig very narrow tunnels from their own nest into the nests of larger ants such as Lasius and Formica, too narrow for the hosts to follow. Through them they steal eggs, larvae and food, and they discharge a long-lasting repellent from their poison glands to keep the defenders away. Raiding is not their only food source, though: they also scavenge, tend root aphids and hunt small soil animals, and keepers raise colonies without any host colony.",{"question":247,"answer":248},"Is Solenopsis fugax a fire ant?","It belongs to the same genus as the fire ants, but it is a different, tiny species. The invasive fire ants on the EU list are Solenopsis geminata, S. invicta and S. richteri, and the thief ant is not one of them. It is native to Europe, found from southern England and southern Sweden down to the Mediterranean and east to the Caucasus and the Caspian steppes.",{"question":250,"answer":251},"Why don't my Solenopsis fugax come out to eat?","They live almost entirely underground and are rarely seen at the surface. In an Italian diary, a colony whose nest was far from the arena never came out, could not be fed and died after a year, so bring the food right to the nest entrance, with tiny prey and a very small drop of honey, and check that the workers really take it.","Tiny pale yellow to brownish-yellow workers with minute eyes that live underground and are rarely seen at the surface, while the queens are far bigger, usually dark brown to blackish, and are easily mistaken for Tetramorium or Plagiolepis queens. Several European thief ants look almost the same, so a sure name needs a microscope.","en",{},true,[257,260,262,265],{"kind":258,"text":259},"watchOut","Do not trust plaster, hot glue or even silicone to hold these workers: an experienced keeper reports that they dig through all three, that only masonry filler lasted, and that the escapes then come through tube connections and glass joints. Seal every join and keep the whole setup inside a closed box.",{"kind":258,"text":261},"Never place the nest next to a Lasius or Formica colony. An experienced Italian keeper warns that thief ants find a way to their neighbors and carry off the brood, however much food they get.",{"kind":263,"text":264},"tip","Founding is the hard part and many queens die. Keepers get better results when the test tube holds a layer of moist soil or clay, or is closed with a pierced plastic cap backed by cotton, which keeps the air humid. An experienced Italian keeper also advises leaving the young colony in its tube until it is far bigger than other ants would need.",{"kind":263,"text":266},"Feed in micro-portions: tiny prey such as fruit flies, springtails or pieces of mosquito, and only a very small drop of diluted honey on cotton, because the workers drown easily.","\u002Fspecies\u002Fsolenopsis-fugax",{"description":239},"8GQzW-EA2GIrEDuBuz8-S6GfTsKQW4tlLF-C-RTnDjo",[271,272,273,274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285],"Austria","Belgium","Czechia","France","Germany","Greece","Hungary","Italy","Netherlands","Poland","Spain","Switzerland","Türkiye","Ukraine","United Kingdom",[287,288,290],{"name":66,"slug":34},{"name":67,"slug":289},"tetramorium-caespitum",{"name":68,"slug":291},"plagiolepis-pygmaea",[293,314,331],{"slug":294,"scientificName":295,"genus":296,"nickname":297,"aliases":298,"tagline":300,"image":301,"experience":40,"guide":34,"difficulty":33,"workerSize":302,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":304,"temperature":305,"hibernation":308,"hibernationTemperature":309,"hibernationBand":310,"sizeClass":10,"founding":311,"colonyStructure":312,"regions":313},"lasius-fuliginosus","Lasius fuliginosus","Lasius","Jet black ant",[299],"Jet ant","A glossy black, sweet-smelling carton builder that cannot start a colony without borrowing another ant's workers.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Flasius-fuliginosus.jpg",[81,303],6,[303,82],[306,307],20,26,"required",[50,75],"cold","parasitic","monogyne",[84,86,87],{"slug":315,"scientificName":316,"genus":317,"nickname":239,"aliases":318,"tagline":321,"image":322,"experience":40,"guide":34,"difficulty":33,"workerSize":323,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":325,"temperature":327,"hibernation":45,"hibernationTemperature":328,"hibernationBand":310,"sizeClass":10,"founding":329,"colonyStructure":7,"regions":330},"manica-rubida","Manica rubida","Manica",[319,320],"European red ant","Giant European fire ant","A big, rusty-red mountain hunter that heaps crater-like mounds around its nest entrances, stings like a wasp and punishes mistakes in the founding stage.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmanica-rubida.jpg",[50,324],9,[51,326],13,[306,220],[50,51],"semiClaustral",[84,86],{"slug":289,"scientificName":67,"genus":332,"nickname":333,"aliases":334,"tagline":337,"image":338,"experience":339,"guide":340,"difficulty":341,"workerSize":342,"majorSize":34,"queenSize":343,"temperature":344,"hibernation":308,"hibernationTemperature":346,"hibernationBand":310,"sizeClass":347,"founding":43,"colonyStructure":312,"regions":348},"Tetramorium","Pavement ant",[335,336],"Red pavement ant","Turf ant","Tiny, tough and fast-growing, as long as your nest is escape-proof.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Ftetramorium_caespitum_colony_on_rocks_5.jpeg","firstHand","how-to-care-for-tetramorium-caespitum","4",[48,81],[303,75],[219,345],27,[50,75],"small",[84],[350,357,363],{"id":351,"title":352,"description":353,"image":354,"categoryText":355,"path":356},"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","Ant Keeping Basics","\u002Fwhat-to-do-after-catching-your-first-queen-ant",{"id":358,"title":359,"description":360,"image":361,"categoryText":355,"path":362},"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",{"id":364,"title":365,"description":366,"image":367,"categoryText":368,"path":369},"blog\u002Fytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest.md","Ytong vs Acrylic - Which Is Better For An Ant Nest?","In this article, we’re going to talk about two of the most popular types of ant nests: acrylic nests and Ytong nests! Let's compare them!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ytong_vs_acrylic.png","Product Comparisons","\u002Fytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest",1791900227230]