Description

This is a monogynous (single-queen), claustral and polymorphic ant species, that has three worker castes (minor, media, major). Their workers are robust, strong, and resilient. The queen has a black head and thorax, with a reddish-brown abdomen. The workers are lighter, with black heads and yellowish-brown thoraxes and abdomens. In addition to their strong mandibles, they defend themselves by spraying formic acid. They become more active and develop faster in warmer conditions, establishing colonies of several thousand individuals. The queen’s lifespan can reach up to 10-15 years. Due to their slow reproduction, starting a colony from a queen requires a lot of patience, that makes them more suitable for experienced keepers. However, once the colony has 20-25 workers, it may also be suitable for beginners.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: The colony initially reproduces slowly, raising a maximum of 25-40 workers in the first year, but by the second year, the number can reach around 100 workers. The colony is shy while it has only a few workers, but once they reach several hundred workers, they become bolder and aggressively guard their territory.

Hibernation: As a tropical ant species, they do not require hibernation, but during the winter period, from December to March, the queen stops laying eggs. It is not advisable to heat them during this time, room temperature is recommended, but they remain active, and should be fed as usual.