Description

This is a shy, heat-loving ant species. It is monogynous (single-queen) and claustral species. The colony remains small, typically consisting of a few hundred workers, so there’s no need to worry about them growing out of control. The species is polymorphic, with workers appearing in three distinct sizes (minor, media, major). Both the queen and the workers are shiny black and covered in long hairs. In addition to their strong mandibles, they defend themselves by spraying acid. They nest in the ground and prefer open, sunny areas. Their hidden nests usually have only one or just a few entrances.

They are timid and reclusive when encountering other ants, avoiding conflict and usually choosing to flee rather than fight. They do not guard their food sources—workers forage alone. This is a hardy species that can withstand temporary shortages of water or food. The queen can live up to 10–15 years.

Feeding:
Honey and insects.

Reproduction:
The colony grows slowly at first, raising at most 10–20 workers in the first year. By the third year, however, they may reach around 100 workers. Major workers tend to appear relatively early in this species.

Hibernation:
At 5–8°C, from the end of November to the end of March.
More information about hibernation is available in this video.

The queen and workers closely resemble the Camponotus piceus species shown in the video, both in appearance and in many characteristics: