Description

This is an active, slightly aggressive and resilient ant species. It is semi-claustral, so the queen requires feeding even during the initial period. The workers are reddish-yellow and 4-5 mm sized, equipped with stingers, but their sting is not dangerous to humans. At worst, it may cause skin redness and nettle-like itching. In addition to honey, they require a lot of insects as food. The colony raise several thousand offspring. They have a medium humidity requirement and in nature, they dig their nest in the soil, under stones or dead wood.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: Initially, reproduction is slow, but it speeds up over time. In the first year, they raise 20-40 workers, and by the second year, the population can reach a few hundred workers. A mature colony is quite populous, with several thousand workers. The offspring develop without cocoons, so the pupae are white and ant-shaped. It takes 6 weeks for an egg to develop into a mature worker.

Hibernation: It is recommended to hibernate them from the end of November until March, at a temperature of 5-8°C. More information about hibernation is available in this video.