Diacamma ceylonense
| Latin Name: |  |
Diacamma ceylonense |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Ponerinae Tribe: Ponerini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) shows higher requirements to climate and escape prevention |
| Distribution: |  |
India, Sri Lanka |
| Habitate: |  |
tropical rainforest |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: - Colour: mainly called queenless. They can be distinguished from normal workers by some small glands which are homolog to the forewings. These glands are called gemmae. |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 12mm Colour: black with silver pubescense, mandibles reddish brown |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: orange to red |
| Nutrion: |  |
honeywater and insects like flies and cricket, fruits e.g. grapes |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 50 - 70% Nestpart: 50 - 80% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
nest in moist loam-soil and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Ytong/Plaster |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: L - XL |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-loam Arena: Sand-loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to tropical rainforest |
| Decoration: |  |
stones, leaflitter, twigs, |
| Description: |  |
Diacamma ceylonense is an Asian antspecies which shows high activity outside the nest. They need a high amount of proteins for their brood. Insects are paralysed and killed with their effective stinger. Humans often show local pain-reactions after they get stung by these ants. When they find a larger foodsource workers guide each other by tandemruns to the foodsource. The genus Diacamma is often termed queenless. But correctly it has to be said that all newborn ants are ergatoid queens and become workers by amputation of their gemmae. These gemmae are special glands which enable the reproduction. After the old gamergate (Ergatoid) has died newborn workers are able to mate and start egg production. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: semiclaustral through budding colonysize: a few hundred workers |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |