Description

This is a claustral ant species from Northeast Asia. They are polygynous (having multiple queens) but can also successfully establish a colony with just one queen. In the wild, they live in dense forests, digging their nests into the soil and using this soil in very interesting ways. They use the soil to build their own buildings, and they also cover the nests of neighboring ant species with it, gaining a strategic advantage in foraging. They release strong chemical substances from their abdomens as a defense mechanism. The queen is large, with a red head and thorax and a shiny black abdomen. The workers have similar coloring but are slightly darker. They are resilient and well-adapted to their environment. Also aggressive and territorial, they effectively capture prey even with fewer numbers, quickly neutralizing them with their stingers. They establish populous colonies, consisting of several thousand, even up to ten thousand workers. The queen’s lifespan can reach up to 20 years! Starting a colony from a queen requires a lot of patience, so it is recommended mainly for more experienced keepers. However, once there are 15-20 workers in the colony, it can be a suitable species for beginners.

Feeding: Honey and insects.

Reproduction: The colony grows slowly, requiring a lot of patience. Initially, they lay many eggs, but some are consumed, and only the remaining ones develop into workers. Later, their reproduction speeds up, and the mature colony quite populous, consisting of several thousand workers.

Hibernation: As a tropical ant species, they do not need to hibernate, but during the winter period, from November to January, they stop laying eggs. During this time, heating is not necessary, and room temperature is recommended. However, they remain active and still need to be fed as usual.