Formica rufa Care Guide: Keeping the Red Wood Ant
Updated: 1 day ago
Formica rufa, the red wood ant, is one of the most impressive ants of Europe. In the wild it builds huge mounds with up to millions of ants. Keeping it is a real challenge: a young queen cannot start a colony on her own, the species needs a proper winter rest, and the workers are fast, strong climbers. For experienced keepers, a growing red wood ant colony is a fantastic project. Curious about its life in the wild first? Read our red wood ant facts.
At a glance
Origin: forests of Europe and western Asia
Difficulty: for experienced keepers
Founding: needs host workers of another Formica species, such as Formica fusca
Colony structure: usually one or a few queens per nest in the wild; in captivity you start with one queen
Growth: slow at first
Colony size: very large in the wild
Temperature: room temperature, with a warm spot
Humidity: moderate
Winter rest: required
Most important points: the right start with host workers, escape prevention and the rules in your country
Check the rules first
Red wood ants are protected in several countries. In countries such as Germany and Switzerland, wild mounds are protected, so you may not take ants or nest material from them. Check the rules in your own country before you buy a colony, and never dig up ants or nest material from a wild mound.
How a colony starts
A young red wood ant queen cannot raise her first workers alone. In the wild, she enters the nest of another Formica species, such as Formica fusca. The host queen is killed, and the host workers raise the red wood ant brood as if it were their own. That is why our Formica rufa queens come with Formica fusca workers that help the colony get started. Over time, the fusca workers die of old age and are replaced by red wood ant workers. That is completely normal.
Appearance
Workers have a reddish head and thorax and a dark gaster, and come in different sizes up to about 9 mm. The queen is larger and darker. Formica rufa is part of a group of very similar species; read how to tell them apart in the Formica rufa group.
Growth
Growth is slow in the first period, while the colony still depends on its host workers. Once the colony has its own workers and plenty of food, it speeds up. Every colony is different, so we do not give timelines.
Temperature
Red wood ants do well at room temperature. In the wild, they warm their nest with the sun, so a gentle warm spot on one side of the nest helps the brood develop, especially in spring. Always leave a cooler area so the ants can choose, and keep in mind that the setting on a heat mat is not the temperature in the nest.
Humidity
Keep the humidity moderate: part of the nest slightly moist, the rest dry. Always provide clean water. Condensation or mould means it is too wet; workers crowding around the moist spot means it is time to add water.
Winter rest
A winter rest is required. In nature, red wood ants spend the winter deep underground in a cold, slow state. Give the colony a cool rest period from late autumn to early spring, for example in an unheated room, a garage or a wine fridge. Feed less during this time, but always keep water available.
Feeding
Sugar: in the wild, honeydew makes up most of their food, so keep sugar available at all times, for example sugar water or Sugar Jelly.
Protein: red wood ants are keen hunters. Offer insects such as fruit flies, crickets or mealworms, and adjust the amount to the size of your colony. Freeze wild-caught insects first.
Leftovers: remove leftovers before they mould.
Water: always provide clean water.
Housing
Small colony: a test tube setup connected to a Mini Outworld.
Larger colony: a larger nest with a spacious outworld. Red wood ants love to build: give them some pine needles and small twigs in the outworld and watch them make a small mound. Read how the real thing works in how a red wood ant mound works.
Escape prevention: Formica workers are fast and climb very well. Use a good anti-escape barrier such as Fluon and check every lid and connection. Read more in our anti-escape guide.
Formic acid and bites
Red wood ants have no sting, but they bite and spray formic acid when disturbed. You will smell it as soon as you open the setup. It is harmless for most people, but keep it away from your eyes. Read more in formic acid: how red wood ants spray.
Is Formica rufa right for you?
If you already have experience with several colonies, can give a proper winter rest and want a long-term project with one of Europe's most iconic ants, Formica rufa is a great choice. Have a look at our Formica rufa colonies.
Sources
Wikipedia. Formica rufa.
WSL / Waldwissen. Red wood ants in Switzerland.
Planet Wissen. Rote Waldameise.
Photos: © Jonghyun Park (CC BY 4.0), via iNaturalist.
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