Myrmica scabrinodis

Myrmica scabrinodis is one of the more useful red ants for a UK keeper to understand. It turns up in varied habitats, from damp grassland and moorland edges to coastal and disturbed places, and it is active enough to make a small colony rewarding to observe. Like other Myrmica, it can sting mildly, but it is manageable with sensible containment.

Keeping notes

Founding is semi-claustral, so a queen should be offered tiny amounts of sugar and protein while raising her first workers. Keep the tube humid and avoid letting insect food sit long enough to mould.

Established colonies do well with a small outworld, regular sugar, and small insect portions. Give them a damp nest zone, but avoid swampy conditions. Their adaptable wild habits make them forgiving, provided food stays clean and the setup is escape-proof.

Watch for

• Mild stings, especially when a colony is disturbed.
• Food fouling during semi-claustral founding; feed tiny portions and remove leftovers.
• Red Myrmica species are difficult to identify casually, so buy only from a seller with proper species ID.