| Latin Name: | | Myrmica Rubra |
| Trivial name: | | European Fireant |
| Taxonomy: | | Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Myrmicini |
| Keeping Level: | | (1) easy to keep, they have a potent sting like a stinging - nettle |
| Distribution: | | Great Britain to Central Asia, since the 18th century also in North America |
| Habitat: | | prefers moist places like grassland or open forest, avoids open spaces without vegetation |
| Colony form: | | polygyn |
| Queen: | | Size: 5 - 7,5mm Colour: crimson (dark red) |
| Worker: | | Size: 4 - 6mm Colour: crimson (dark red) till brown-orange, Gaster shiny |
| Soldier: | | not present |
| Males: | | Size: 4 - 5 mm Colour: black, slim |
| Nutrition: | | Honey and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
| Air humidity: | | Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: | | Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: | | yes, from the end of October until the end of March at 5 - 8°C |
| Nest form: | | Nests in soil, in rotten wood and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: | | Plaster Farm, Pla with sand or plaster bed |
| Formicaria size: | | Size: S - M |
| Substrate: | | Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-loam, wood |
| Planting: | | similar to Forestareas with moss, grass and other plants |
| Decoration: | | Branches, Roots, Treeneedels |
| Description: | | The colony is tough, well-fortified, active and a bit aggressive, low-maintenance ants. They can prick you when they felt under pressure (similar to stinging-nettle). Prefer highly moistened nests. |
| Development: | | mating flight: on warm days from august to September
founding: semi claustral (queen collects food)
from egg to adult worker approx. 6 weeks (depending on temperature).
colony size: up to 20 000 individuals |
| Quantity: | | one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: | | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmica_rubra |
