Description

This ant lives in cooler, humid environments in high mountains. In nature, they dig their nests in the soil, often under stones or fallen trees. They are semi-claustral, so the queen requires feeding during the initial period. They swarm in autumn, the queen hibernates during the first year and only establishes the colony the following year. In spring, she also goes out to hunt, so it’s very important to feed her insects. The workers are 4-5 mm long, reddish-yellow, and have stingers, but their sting is harmless to humans. In addition to honey, they require a diet rich in insects, to provide enough nutrients for the colony. They are very similar to Myrmica sabuleti, but we can find differences between their antennas.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: They grow slowly at the beginning, but their reproduction increases over time. In the first year after swarming, they raise 20-40 workers; in the following year, their numbers may reach a few hundred workers. The fully developed colony can be quite populous with several thousand workers. Offspring develop without pupal cocoons, so the pupal stage appears white and ant-shaped. It takes about six weeks for a worker to develop from an egg.

Hibernation: Hibernation is recommended from the end of November until March at 5-8°C. For more information on hibernation can be found in this video.