Myrmecia nigriceps
A black-headed bulldog ant from southern and eastern Australia with workers of different sizes. For experienced keepers.
Species at a glance
- Origin: southern and eastern Australia, open woodland and semi-arid areas
- Size: queen 20–26 mm; workers 14–22 mm
- Colony: up to 2,000 workers; queens live for many years
- Difficulty: intermediate, for keepers with some experience
Care conditions
- Temperature: 18–28 °C with a warm spot
- Humidity: 50–70%
- Food: live or freshly killed insects almost daily, as these hunters react to moving prey; an occasional drop of diluted honey
Hibernation
Essential: 2–3 months at about 12 °C.
Farm and colony growth
The queen is semi-claustral: until the first workers appear she hunts herself, so she needs a small arena and small prey every 2–3 days. Workers have excellent eyesight and run fast, so use a double escape barrier and a closed arena.
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.