Description

This is a common, monogynous (single-queen) and claustral ant species. They typically nest underground in open, grassy, or rocky areas that are covered with trees and bushes, preferring sunny locations. They tolerate both dryness and heat well and can adapt to various conditions, that makes them suitable for beginners. The workers are 3-4 mm in size, and are reddish-brown, forming colonies consisting of thousands of workers. They defend themselves with strong mandibles and acid spraying. They forage at ground level and on plants as well, often tending aphids on plants to consume their sweet honeydew. The queen is 8-10 mm long, with a brownish-red thorax and  yellowish abdomen. Her expected lifespan is at least 5-10 years, but with ideal conditions, it can easily exceed that!

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: It takes 6-8 weeks to develop from egg to mature worker (depending on temperature). They reproduce quickly, and by the second year, the colony can reach a few hundred workers.

Hibernation: Requires hibernation at 5-8°C from the end of November to the end of March.
More information about hibernation can be found in this video.