Description

This is a small sized, quite rare, and claustral species. They have only one queen (monogyn). Their mature colony consists of only a few hundred workers. Because of that, the whole colony can be kept in a small enclosure. In wild, they make their nest into the soil, in thick, deciduous forest. This species prefer high humidity and stable temperature, also the cooler summer and warmer winter. Both the queen and workers are brownish black, or brownish red. They have glossy abdomen and light yellow legs, their heads and thoraxes are pleated. Their eyes are small, and their vision is weak. Recommended for beginners, but we need to pay attention to their slow reproduction and small size. Workers are shy, avoid conflict with other insects and ants and never hunt. Only dead insects should be fed! They defend themselves by curling up. If the danger passes, they get up and escape away.

Food: Besides honey and insects, they require a small amount of oily seeds, like nut, peanut, sunflower seeds etc. to provide all the necessary nutrients for them.

Reproduction: Reproduces slowly, in the first year may raise  3-10 workers. By the second year, their number may reach up to 30-50 workers. The mature colony consists of only a few hundred workers. The offspring develop without pupa, so the pupal form is white and ant shaped.

Hibernation: From the end of November to March, at 5-8°C.
For more information, check this  video.