ANTSTORE World of Ants

[SteveUK28]

Ok guys as i said ive been up to my lovely local forest and looked about and as predicited couldnt find a single ant.. However.. i was very happy to see that the nest that i used to see as a kid was still there, suprisingly its right on the road
Also after a bit of exploring into the forest i found another 2 nests... which i thought was well kewl
Hope you like the pics

[miszt]

Nice pics steve, which forest is that?

[SteveUK28]

Its near me in wales... urmm dunno the name.. guess its called Destow lol
Ive been going there all my life.. Can you by any chance tell for def which ants they are by the nest?

[miszt]

not without a picture, they are defniitly Formica of some kind tho

I love the forests around wales, been to a few that have some awsome examples of diffrent Formica's, not so fun be squirted at with formic acid, but then i guess i shuldnt stick my face so close LOL

[JimmyVe]

Without picture of the ants its not possible to say which one they are, but like miszt said they are definitely a Formica sp. this species make such nice farms.

[SteveUK28]

Can you buy that species of ant then? and are they easy to keep ?

[ant dude]

I love the forests around wales, been to a few that have some awsome examples of diffrent Formica's, not so fun be squirted at with formic acid, but then i guess i shuldnt stick my face so close LOL

more than likely formica rufra! it sounds like this species now and no u cant bye them/keep them because there predectided/endaged species in
england! u can keep/buy other formica species though, such as fusca, lemani and rufrabies etc

[SteveUK28]

Def not endangered across here.. perhaps i should pay the nest a visit next summer and see if i can catch me a queen

[miszt]

Rufa are a protected species Steve, there are very few sites in the UK now that have a good population of them, even if u see allot around, you may just be lucky enough to live close to a good population that is being looked after and protected

[SteveUK28]

thats well mad cos around my local area there is plenty of forests and you always see them.. Would it be illegal for me to get a queen then ?
The first nest i showed you that is well over 20 years old is prob a good 6' high... and thats above ground.. an prob around 4' wide.. it is massive.

[sithmaster676]

it wouldn't be illegal if you found the formica rufa queen from the mating flights but you cannot harm a colony in anyway to get a queen
Sithmaster676

[damondeionno]

I don't think Formica rufa are a good candidate for captivity, regardless of the legal implications. Simply their lifestyle wouldn't suit artificial nests. Their natural nest building would be very hard to replicate.

You are lucky to have them nearby and if I were you I would just enjoy them in their natural habitat.

Now, an outdoor F. rufa nest in a big garden... That would be something else...

[JimmyVe]

It still is illegal also if you capture a queen after mating flights. (at least here in Belgium it is)
Damondeinno is wright, there nest building is not easy to make with a artificial nest. If not impossible.
I know they are nice ants but it better to leave them in the forest and take another nice ant in you home.

[SteveUK28]

Thanks for the input guys... you said about nest in a large back garden lol..
i do have a large back garden
Lol still.. i think il keep ur advise and just visit.. i wouldnt want to harm them in any way and if gettin there nest right is gonna be nie on impossible id rather them make there own way. Still cool tho.. In the summer i shall get you some nice pics then.. especialy of the queens