Description
Name: Lepisiota cf. frauenfeldi
Origin: Tunisia
Queen: approx. 6 – 7 mm
Workers: approx. 2.5 – 4 mm
Diet: Carbohydrates (sugar water, honey), proteins (small insects, e.g. flies, crickets)
Humidity:
• Arena: 30 – 50%
• Nest: 50 – 70%
Temperature:
• Arena: 22 – 30 °C
• Nest: 24 – 32 °C
Hibernation: No
Nest type: Ytong, gypsum or soil nests with good ventilation
Colony size: Very large – several thousand to tens of thousands of workers possible
Advantages and Disadvantages of the species Lepisiota cf. frauenfeldi
Advantages:
Very agile and active ant species with impressive colony development. Lepisiota cf. frauenfeldi is robust, reliably accepts food, and is well-suited for keepers who appreciate lively activity in the arena. No hibernation necessary, thus active all year round.
Disadvantages:
Under good conditions, the species tends to rapid mass development.
Care
This species needs a lot of space, movement, and a well-secured arena. The colony grows quickly, so expandable nest solutions are useful. Gypsum, Ytong, or soil nests with fine chambers are suitable. Due to their activity, regular cleaning and inspection of the escape protection are important.
Feeding
Feed protein-rich food – small insects such as flies, cockroaches, or crickets are actively hunted and accepted. With a large colony size, food requirements increase significantly.
Special features
This species forms so-called "supercolonies" with multiple queens (polygynous). Colonies are often aggressive towards foreign species and very territorial. Therefore, keeping them with other species in the same setup is not recommended.