Description

This is a monogynous (single queen), claustral and polymorphic species with three worker castes (minor, media, major). The workers are large, robust, strong, and resilient. The queen is shiny black with a striking yellow pattern on her abdomen. The workers are lighter, with a yellowish hue, while their head and thorax are darker, with a yellow-brownish tone. In addition to their strong mandibles, they defend themselves by spraying acid. These ants are aggressive, and their bite is strong, though not dangerous to humans. They typically nest in open, sunny areas, under stones, in the soil, or in dead wood. While they rarely hunt larger prey, the workers sometimes deal with larger (dead) insect together. They become more active and develop faster in warmer conditions. They establish colonies with several thousand workers. The queen’s expected lifespan can reach up to 10-15 years.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: The colony initially reproduces slowly, raise 10-20 workers in the first year, but by the second year, they can reach 100 workers. The colony is timid while they have only a few workers, but once they reach several hundred workers, they become bolder and aggressively defend their territory. A mature colony consists of several thousand workers. Their development takes 6-8 weeks from egg to a mature worker, depending on environmental conditions.

Hibernating: As a tropical ant species, they do not require hibernating. However, during the winter months, roughly from December to February, they stop laying eggs. During this period, heating is unnecessary and room temperature is recommended. They remain active and need to be fed as usual.