Plagiolepis pygmaea
| Latin Name: |  |
Plagiolepis pygmaea |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Plagiolepidini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(1) Species from Southern Europe with higher requirements towards food and climate but also escape prevention |
| Distribution: |  |
Southern Germany, Southern Europe, North Africa |
| Habitat: |  |
Xerothermic meadows |
| Colonyform: |  |
polygyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 3 - 4mm Colour: shiny brown, antenna and legs yellow |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 1,3 - 2mm Colour: shiny brown, antenna and legs yellow |
| Soldier: |  |
- |
| Males: |  |
Size: 1,5 - 2mm Colour: brown, antenna and legs yellow |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater, insect like e.g flies, mosquitos and other dipterens |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 30°C Nestpart: 21 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of November until end of February at 15°C |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in soil and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest, Acrylflatfarm |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: S - M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to savanah areas with grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, roots, treeneedels, stones |
| Description: |  |
This species is a small ant from South Europe. They are very aggressive against other ants and can recrute quickly towards feeding places. They need a huge amount of food so with a lack they try to escape very fast. Therefore it is nesseccary to have a good escape prevention. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: June - August founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
