Description

This is a monogynous (single-queen), claustral and polymorphic ant species. It has three worker castes (minor, media, major). The workers are robust, strong, and resilient. The queen’s body is glossy black, with a rounded abdomen and a reddish-colored underside of the thorax. The workers are lighter in color, with black heads and abdomen, while their thorax and legs are red. Besides their strong mandibles, they defend themselves by spraying formic acid. They become more active and develop faster in warm conditions. They form colonies consisting of thousands of workers. The queen’s expected lifespan can reach up to 10-15 years. Due to their slow reproduction rate, raising a colony from a queen requires patience. Recommended for more experienced keepers. However, once the colony reaches 20-25 workers, they can also be suitable for beginners.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: The colony initially grows slowly, raising a maximum of 25-40 workers in the first year, but by the second year, the colony size can reach up to 100 workers. The colony is timid when it has just a few workers, but once they reach several hundred workers, they become bold and aggressively defend their territory.

Hibernation: At 5-8°C, from late November to the end of March. For more information, check out this video.