Description

This is a small sized, polygyn (multiple queens), claustral, quick, aggressive and territorial species. They keep other insects away from their place with characteristic pheromone, which smells like lemon.  They consume dead insects to provide protein for themselves. But sometimes, they clean up other ant’s carcass, after a fight or a war. Both the queen and the workers are glossy black. They reproduce rapidly, but they need large amount of food for that. They make their nest into the soil, and prefer warm and quite dry environment. Workers look for food on the ground, maybe on plants or rocks. They walk around quite large areas to find enough food resources. The expected lifespan of the queen is 3-5 years. It is important to make their formicarium escape proof!

Food: Honey and insects.

Reproduce: They reproduces fast in warmer conditions. The mature colony consists of a few thousand workers.

Hibernation: At 5-8°C-on, from the end of November to the end of March.
More information about hibernation in this video.