Myrmecia nigrocincta
A day-active bulldog ant from eastern Australia with a black head and gaster and an orange-red thorax and legs.
Species at a glance
- Origin: eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria
- Size: queen 16–20 mm; workers 12–16 mm, all one size
- Colony: a single queen; up to 1,000 ants
- 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
Needed: 3–4 months at about 15 °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, run fast and jump, 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.