Description

Monogynous (single-queen), claustral ant species native to Southern Europe. They tolerate drier habitats well. These glossy black ants have reddish tones. Polymorphic, it means they have workers in three different sizes (minor, media, major). The colony size reaches only a few hundred workers. They are timid, they avoid conflict, and generally they escape from any fights with other ants. Workers are fast, have good vision and occasionally drop themselves from tree branches to escape from fight. They do not guard their food sources; workers search for food alone. The colony is resilient, they tolerate temporary water or food shortages. The queen’s expected lifespan can reach up to 10-15 years.

Feed:  Honey and insects.

Colony size: The colony reproduces slowly, raise 10-20 workers in the first year, but from the third year, they can reach a population of 100 workers.

Hibernation: At 5-9°C, from late November to the end of March. For more information check this video.