Taxonomy

Subfamily: Myrmeciinae

Tribe: Myrmeciini

Genus: Myrmecia

Fabricius, 1804

Species: Myrmecia nigriscapa (Roger, 1861)

General information

Description: Red, last part of Gaster black, remainder of Gaster yellowish red, mandibles and clypeus reddish yellow

Worker length: 17 – 25 mm

Queen length: 23 - 26 mm

Colony: Monogyne

Colony founding: Semiclaustral

Nest: Nest in soil

Nest size: A few hundred workers

Lifespan (colony): Unknown

Hibernation: No

Activity pattern: Diurnal and nocturnal

Care requirements

Climate: Subtropical

Temperature: 20 – 26 °C

Humidity: 50 - 60 %

Arena: Dry

Nest: Maintain a damp and a dry end

Food: Sugar solutions, insects and spiders

Enclosure: Large glass tank or terrarium

Substrate: Sand or loamy sand

Enclosure fit-out: Leaf litter, rocks, roots, bark, vegetation optional, water- and sugar solution bowls

Lebensweise/Habits and biology

Myrmecia nigriscapa sind tagaktiv und suchen am Boden oder in niedriger Vegetation nach Nahrung.

Die Nester, häufig zwischen den Wurzeln eines Baumes oder Strauches, sind nicht weiter auffällig und haben oftmals nur eine einzelne große Nestöffnung ohne Nesthügel.

Eine Arbeiterin vor dem Nesteingang:

A worker in front of the nest entrance:

Eine Arbeiterin hat einen kleinen Grashüpfer erbeutet:

A worker has captured a small grashopper:

Myrmecia nigriscapa are diurnal, foraging manly on the ground and on low vegetation.

Their nests, often between the roots of trees or shrubs, are inconspicuous and have only one large entrance hole.