These are slender ants which are red in color and about 9-10 mm in length. Colonies are not large and usually consist of two - three hundred individuals. They nest on the ground but do not excavate their nests preferring instead to make use of ready made cavities in places such as pieces of old wood or inside dead bamboo stems.
When undisturbed their movements are calm and deliberate and they slowly walk around with their mandibles set in 'trap position' probing with their long antennae. However, when their nest is disturbed they can move quickly and will defend it by latching onto your hand and delivering a very painful sting.
The queens are very similar to the workers in size and coloration and only recognized apart by an enlarged thorax and slightly larger abdomen. It is a polygynous species and mature established colonies will often contain several queens.
In their natural habitat they are difficult to find and observe as they prefer to forage at night under leaf litter and when disturbed they quickly move away. During the day you will rarely find any workers out of the nest.
They can be kept in captivity relatively easily and readily take sugared water and both dead and live insects. A favorite food is small newly hatched crickets which are simply put into their enclosure alive - and will be found in the ant’s brood chamber the next morning.
They do not climb much but prefer to forage mostly at ground level although they will explore along fallen branches.
In their natural habitat during the winter and hot season when food is scarce they only raise a small amount of brood and colonies frequently only have a dozen or so pupae. However, once the rainy season starts and food becomes more freely available the queens quickly start to lay more eggs and they will raise much larger broods.
Because this species is capable of giving a painful sting we will only sell colonies to customers over the age of 18 - or with a signed parental consent form. Please contact us for more details.
Top: A queen recognizable by her enlarged thorax and slightly larger abdomen.
Above: A queen near a batch of newly laid eggs.