Myrmecia — bulldog ants
Australian bulldog ants: large hunters with superb eyesight and a powerful sting. Impressive, but for experienced keepers only.
Why bulldog ants are interesting
Myrmecia live only in Australia. They are among the largest ants in the world, with big eyes, long toothed mandibles and wasp-like behaviour. Workers hunt alone by sight, and some species can jump. Colonies are small, from a few hundred to two thousand ants.
Care
- Food: live or freshly killed insects and a little sugar.
- Founding: the queen hunts herself, so she needs an arena and regular small prey.
- Farm: a double escape barrier, as workers are fast and some species jump.
- Hibernation: most species need a cool period of 12–15 °C for 2–3 months.
Safety
Bulldog ants have a strong, painful sting, and in sensitive people a sting can cause a severe allergic reaction. Never handle the ants, use long forceps, and keep the farm away from children and pets. This species is not for people allergic to bee or wasp stings.