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Manica rubida

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€3.52

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from €2.34 - InPost Courier (Poland)

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Description

The largest red ant and the only representative of its genus in Europe. One of the largest ant species in Poland. It is a mountain species and is found only in the southern part of the country. They inhabit mainly sandy areas and prefer open, sunny habitats. They are often found in parking lots or forest edges, where they usually compete with Formica cinerea. They also like to live near lakes or rivers, although they can be found far from them.

They have a very strong sting, sometimes leaving swelling for several days. Stings are usually painful and can itch or burn. Some even compare their stings to those of hornets. In terms of interactions with other ants, they are highly combative when attacked but rarely initiate the attack themselves. However, they display immense aggression towards animals of any size. They can kill opponents much larger than themselves, engaging in blind fights. Even severely injured workers, literally cut in half or crushed, continue to fight valiantly.

Colonies are typically polygynous and consist of several thousand workers. They often form polydomous systems, and some sources even mention supercolonies. They can host the butterfly Maculinea alcon.

Species: Manica rubida
Difficulty: moderate (a bit challenging at the beginning, then it gets easier)
Soldiers: none
Size: queen 10-13mm, worker 6-9mm
Coloration: red or reddish
Distribution: Central and Southern Europe
Nutrition: honey water and feeder insects, even tiny colonies can handle a live feeder
Hibernation: yes, around 6-15°C (43-59°F)
Temperature: 23-28°C (73-82°F)