Description

This ant species is distributed throughout Europe. It is not particularly rare, but neither is it very common. It inhabits moist, humid meadows and clearings, where it excavates its nest in the soil. Colony founding is semi-claustral; the queen requires feeding even during the initial phase. It is an autumn-swarming species—the fertilized queen overwinters alone during the first year and begins founding the colony only in the following year. In spring, during this period, she also forages, so it is very important to provide her with insects on a regular basis.

The workers are 4–5 mm long, reddish in color, and have a strong exoskeleton. They possess a sting, but it is not dangerous to humans (at worst, it may cause redness and itching similar to a nettle sting). They are effective hunters and aggressively defend their territory against intruders. In addition to honey, they require a large amount of insect prey. They can temporarily tolerate dry conditions, but stable, higher humidity is necessary for proper development.

Feeding: honey and insects.

Reproduction: Initially, colony growth is slow, but it accelerates over time. In the first year after swarming, 20–40 workers are raised; in the following year, the colony may reach several hundred workers. The number of individuals in a mature nest usually does not exceed 1,000. Brood develops without cocoons, so the pupae are white and ant-shaped. Approximately six weeks are required for development from egg to fully developed worker.

Hibernation: It is recommended to overwinter the colony from late November to March at a temperature of 5–8 °C. More information about overwintering can be found in the related  video.