Description

This is a claustral ant species from Southern Europe. The queen and workers are both dark brown to black. In nature, they nest in the soil, occasionally under stones. They forage at night or during cooler periods, they do not require particularly warm conditions when kept in captivity. They reproduce quickly and can easily inhabit anything, that makes them suitable for placing in terrarium decorations. Although they are a shy species, they will aggressively raise their abdomen and spray formic acid, that allows them to defend themselves with minimal losses. They forage both at ground level and on higher objects or plants, but due to their shyness, it is recommended to offer them larger insects in pieces. They can handle smaller insects (e.g., springtails or fruit flies) on their own.
Feeding: Honey and insects, but occasionally oily seeds (walnuts, hazelnuts) are also recommended.
Reproduction: In the first year, they raise at most 25-40 workers, but from the second year on, the colony size can reach 100 workers. A mature colony consists of several thousand workers.
Hibernation: At 10-15°C, from the end of November to the end of February. For more information on hibernation, check this video.