Myrmecia nigriscapa
An Australian bulldog ant and a large day-active hunter. A rare species for experienced keepers.
Species at a glance
- Origin: Australia
- Size: large ants, over 2 cm
- Colony: hundreds of workers
- Difficulty: high, for experienced keepers only
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
Needed: 2–3 months at about 15 °C with no protein food.
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.
Please note
This species is rare in the hobby and there is little verified care data. The conditions are based on the climate of its range and on related species; check them with the seller and watch how the colony develops.