THESE QUEENS FLEW IN MID-SPRING 2021. THEY ARE ALL STRONG QUEENS AND HAVE STARTED LAYING EGGS!
Formica Neorufibarbis is the most colourful wood ant species found in Canada, beaten only by Formica Pacifica. Also known as The New World Red Bearded Field Ant, they are found in most regions of southern-western Canada. Whilst they may be ever so slightly smaller than other wood ant species like Formica Subsericea and Formica Podzolica, they certainly do make up in color. The wood ant queens have a shiny black head and gaster with a beautiful pattern of redish-orange colouration on their thorax and legs. The colours are most visible under the sun or bright light, the workers are extremely eye-catching too.
At Insect Supplies Canada, we sell live wood ant queens, small colonies and even some large colonies of The New World Red Bearded Field Ant. They are one of the easiest ants to keep and are considered a great beginner/novice species for all antkeepers.
Formica Neorufibarbis Queens are normally around 9-12mm while workers from 6-9mm
The colonies of The New World Red Bearded Field Ant can grow very large, they are very active and will live in their logs and develop until they are a force and can start reproducing more alates!
Overall, Formica Neorufibarbis is a very satisfying ant to raise from a single queen into a large colony, the brood develops at a steady pace so it wouldn't be long until you would have a beautiful young colony of these gorgeous wood ants!
