Fire ants, specifically Myrmica rubra, are an intriguing species of ants that have gained recognition for their aggressive behaviour and powerful stings. While they are commonly referred to as fire ants, they do not possess the fiery red colouration often associated with other fire ant species. Instead, Myrmica rubra showcases a dark red or brownish-orange hue, making them easily distinguishable from other ant species. Also known as European Fireant, Red ant. Very easy to keep so suitable for beginner antkeepers, they have a potent sting and if you get stung it's like a stinging nettle. Ant Farm requirements: Air humidity: outworld: 30 - 50% and in the nest: 65 - 80%; Temperature: outworld: overnight 18 and maximum daily temperature 28°C. In the nest area: 21 - 25°C. These fascinating creatures are native to Europe. Myrmica rubra thrives in environments with high humidity, typically found in meadows, mossy areas, and grassy landscapes. They exhibit a polygynous social structure, meaning that multiple queens can coexist within a single colony, leading to the formation of massive super-colonies with thousands of workers. Sometimes, a single colony has up to 100 queens. 
 
Myrmica rubra queens measure approximately 5-7.5mm in length and display a dark red colouration. In contrast, the workers range from 3-6mm in size and exhibit a combination of dark red, brown, and orange hues. Some queens are the same size as the workers and what makes them different is the size of their thorax, it's bigger. 
 
The workers play a crucial role in the colony, carrying out various tasks such as foraging, nest maintenance, and caring for the brood.
 
Fire ants possess a unique and distinct walking style that showcases their dominance and territorial behaviour. This "boss" style walk sets them apart from other ant species and adds to their captivating allure.
 
Find out everything you need to know about fire ants: Fire Ants: The Fascinating World of Myrmica Rubra - Red Ant 
 
Please download the Care Sheet for Myrmica Rubra.
 
We post Royal Mail First Class ONLY.
 
Guarantee: The queen is guaranteed to be alive on arrival.
 
These ants are native to the UK so if you do not want to keep and care for them anymore please do release them into the wild.
 
Thank you