Manica rubida
| Latin Name: |  |
Manica rubida |
| Trivialname: |  |
Gigant European Fire Ant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Myrmicini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) react sensitive on moisture, they have a potent sting |
| Distribiution: |  |
Central- and Southeurope mainly between 500 and 2000m |
| Habitate: |  |
prefers sandy soil in riverbeds or gravelpits, moderate thermophil |
| Colonyform: |  |
older colonies become polygyn (secondary polygyny) |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 9,5 - 13mm Colour: reddish brown, shiny |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 6 - 9mm Colour: reddish - redbrown |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 8 - 12 mm Colour: shiny black , slim |
| Nutrion: |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest under wood with greater underground areas |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Combi, Island, Ytong/Plaster, Cork, Digfix |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Forest- and Mountainsarea with moss, grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Treeneedels |
| Description: |  |
Active Hunters which can also kill bigger insects, by stinging. Not very aggressive but will attack and are hard to be taken over by other ants. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: on warm mid- days from the end of april to the end of june founding: semiclaustral (queen collects food) from Egg to adult worker approx. 8 - 12 Weeks (depending on temperature). colonysize: a few 1000 indivudals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
Ant Information Sheet
