Formica pallidefulva (Pale Field Ant)

A goldenrod sways in the wind as a herd of treehopper nymphs are herded under the lead by two ants-- one brown, and one orangey red. They protect the treehoppers and in return, receive honeydew, a sugary waste product from the treehopper's sap draining activities. A Lasius worker crawls up in an attempt to get a sip of honeydew, but meets only the Formica worker with her jaws wide open and prepared to fight.

This species is one which builds small, conical mounds with colonies boasting several dozen queens and thousands of workers. They survey drier soils, since they are frequently driven out by larger mound-building Field Ants. Thus, while active and aggressive in sandier soils, defending food sources from other ants, they are often more timid and skittish from more humid areas.

Formica pallidefulva are similar to your average Formica in Canada, but have a much lighter body and are less aggressive. These are large, brownish ants at queens from 8-12 mm and workers from 6-9mm. They grow large colonies up to 5000 workers in just 3 years. They prefer 22-26 Celsius and like around 50% humidity. They're more skittish than most ants, and so are of medium difficulty to start, but are extremely enthusiatic and fast growing once they break 50 workers. In the wild, Formica are some of the most dominant ants, hunting down other species and consuming large amounts of biomass, though Formica pallidefulva seem more peaceful than other varieties. We get just a few of these each year, but nonetheless are a wonderful species.

Colours are varied, ranging from a bronze to a red.

Substitute Species

This product contains several species, as follows.

- Formica pallidefulva (Pale Field Ant)

- Formica incerta (Uncertain Field Ant)

Care, behaviour, and appearance between the two species is very similar.

These two species, outside of hairs on the antenna, are mostly identical. Formica pallidefulva seems to be more abundant overall. Both species range from a dark brown to a bronze colouration, but Formica incerta tends to be slightly more bicolored. If a specific species is requested, let us know in the notes section. Otherwise, you will receive one of the two based on availability.

Shipping Conditions

Hey! This is a live product. If you are purchasing ants during the winter months, please remember to purchase the "Winter Shipping (Live Guarantee) (72 hour heat pack + 1 inch foam cushion)" in order to guarantee the order.

Live Guarantee Policy

If live insects arrive cold or flooded please handle with care. Many of these colonies typically pop back up within a few hours. All DOA claims must be made within 24 hours after receiving your insects. Any order with a unacceptable mortality rate, but with a viable colony (e.g. less workers than in the range advertised, less queens or workers than advertised) can be compensated with store credit equal to the loss of value in the shipment, including shipping and extra packaging. Any order with DOAs, but which do not fall out of the initially advertised/promised range of workers will NOT be compensated.

DOA claims which are a total loss will be re-shipped 1 more time FREE of charge with photographic evidence. Orders where shipping is more than 30% of the total value of the order will be refunded proportionally to the loss of value in the shipment, INCLUDING test tube inserts which are purchased with the colony.

We guarantee live arrival on Xpresspost and priority shipments, as well as pickup and local delivery. Only orders that are accepted on the first delivery attempt will be eligible for DOA credit, no exceptions.

Live guarantee is VOID if you choose expedited shipping. In the winter, it is VOID if no extra packing is purchased. Fertility guarantee claims or live guarantee claims made within the month after arrival must be made with a timestamped photo of BOTH the queen alive upon arrival AND a timestamped photo of the dead specimens.

Expedited shipping can be a budget friendly method but does not always have the best results. If your order is going to be in transit more than 3 business days please do not choose this method or choose at your own risk.

DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO HOLD BACK SHIPMENTS IF WE DECIDE ITS TOO COLD TO SHIP.

Please note that orders to outdoor community mail boxes, or other outdoor locations void our live guarantee. If your address consists of an outdoor mail box or location, please make arrangements to have the order delivered to a friends house, or to your place of employment.