Jet-Black Field Ants (Formica neogagates)

General: Formica neogagates is a small Formica (medium sized ant) with a shiny, jet-black color and high energy. These ants will grow pretty quickly compared to most Formica and have smaller colony sizes (rarely getting beyond 1000 or 2000 workers). This makes them a perfect desktop species!

Diet: These ants love sugars! The colony should be fed constant sugars (in the early stages, every 2-3 days at least) so that their abdomens are somewhat full. Feed them protein as well (fruit flies, crickets, mealworms, or roaches) at least twice a week. They love fruit flies, as they’re easy to chew and carry, but offer a more fatty protein (such as roaches) often too!

Temperature: This species is a mountainous or temperate area species, so they don’t enjoy HOT temperatures, but they definitely need to be heated in order to grow. Part of their nest should be cooler (room temperature or low 70s), while another part should be heated (80s). Allow the ants to choose which area each of them want to inhabit. Make sure the nest is always humid, if they aren’t in a tube!

Diapause: These ants need to be hibernated for around 3 months each year. When the colony slows down for hibernation (brood stops developing and the ants show a decreased appetite for protein, queen isn’t laying any eggs), lower the temperature to room temperature and soon after, hibernate them at around 40F ideally (or as close as possible to this). Make sure that they have moisture in hibernation, and of course, feed them plenty before the hibernation (diapause).

Growth: Brood development takes about 6-7 weeks from egg to worker. The colonies can grow rather quickly, often reaching 100s of workers before the end of the 2nd season of growth!

Queen size: 5-8mm

Worker size: 3-4mm

If ants arrive in bad condition, contact us for help. Live arrival is guaranteed.