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Queen Silky Ant (Formica fusca)
Jungledragoners, I'd like your help!
I took this photograph while I was filming what seemed to me, and still does, extraordinary behaviour, for which I am seeking an explanation.
The full story and of course, the behaviour itself, can be seen here:
"Formica fusca" is a black-colored ant commonly found throughout Europe as well as parts of Southern Asia and Africa. The range within the palaearctic region extends from Portugal in the west to Japan in the east and from Italy in the south to Fennoscandia in the north.
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
By Philip Booker
All rights reserved
Uploaded Apr 11, 2023. Captured Apr 9, 2023 12:59 in 33 Crespin Way, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 7FG, UK.
comments (3)
The (attempted) installation of a new queen or the removal of a redundant one?
Impregnation is less likely as I think these are female workers, not male ants? Posted 2 years ago
It's as close as we've got so far, but still doesn't seem to entirely fit the bill?
Plus: I have a BIG surprise to post a little later....
"It's clear the worker is trying to carry the queen into the nest but the opening to the nest is too small for the queen to fit. Then at the first chance she gets she rushes off (to seek cover perhaps?). At this early point in the year this would not be a new queen of 2023 but could be a new queen from last year that has over-wintered in a claustral cell and laid some eggs in an attempt to found a new colony. The worker may have come across her and "decided" that the queen belonged in the workers nest and is trying to take her there. In the meantime the queen takes the first opportunity to rush back to her brood in her claustral cell. I must stress that this is speculation and there may be some other explanation." (Mike Fox) Posted 2 years ago