Description

This is a smaller, rare ant species that was first described in 1995. It lives in the northwestern part of Thailand and has not yet been discovered in other habitats. The colony is polygynous, meaning it has multiple queens, but it can also function  with just one queen. In nature, they nest inside dead wood or under dead wood. They have two worker castes. The minors are 3-4 mm in size, while the majors (or soldiers) are 5-6 mm and have a striking, unique appearance due to their large, robust heads. Both worker castes have a reddish hue and possess very strong armor. The development of this armor takes a lot of time and nutrients, making this ant species a relatively slow-developing species. The workers mainly forage at ground level. They do not require much space, as the colony population only reaches a few hundred workers, so there is no need to worry about them outgrowing their enclosure. They can be kept in a small or medium-sized formicarium for their entire lifespan. The strong mandibles of the major workers allow them to crush seeds or the chitin armor of insects, then the minor workers allowed to consume the prey from the inside. The two castes cooperate very effectively. Although they can be kept well in captivity, our knowledge about this species is still limited, so it is recommended for more experienced keepers.

Feeding: Sugar or honey, and seeds (seed mix + oily seeds like walnuts or hazelnuts), as well as insects.

Reproduction: They reproduce relatively slowly. In the first year, they raise 10-30 workers; in the second or third year, they may reach a population of 100 workers. They reach their final population size in the third or fifth year, with a mature colony consisting of only 100-200 workers.

Hibernation: As a tropical ant species, they do not require hibernation.