Myrmecia simillima

Species at a glance

• Origin: Australia from the west to the east coast; open woodland and coastal heath
• Size: queen 18–22 mm; workers 14–20 mm
• Colony: up to 1,000 ants
• 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: cool gradually over 2–3 weeks to 12 °C and keep in the dark for 8–12 weeks. In the active season the nest must not drop below 18 °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.