Description
Name: Lepisiota cf. frauenfeldi
Origin: Tunisia
Queen: approx. 6 – 7 mm
Workers: approx. 2.5 – 4 mm
Food: 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
Winter Dormancy: No
Nest Type: Aerated concrete (Ytong), plaster, or earth nests with good ventilation
Colony Size: Very large – several thousand to tens of thousands of workers possible
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lepisiota cf. frauenfeldi
Advantages:
A very nimble 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 winter dormancy needed, so it stays active year-round.
Disadvantages:
Under good conditions, this species tends toward rapid mass population growth.
Care
This species needs a lot of space, room to move, and a well-secured arena. The colony grows quickly, so expandable nest solutions are advisable. Plaster, aerated concrete (Ytong), or earth nests with fine chambers are suitable. Due to their activity level, regular cleaning and checking of the escape-proofing is important.
Feeding
Feed high in protein – small insects such as flies, cockroaches, or crickets are actively hunted and accepted. Food requirements increase significantly with larger colony size.
Special Features
This species forms so-called "supercolonies" with multiple queens (polygynous). The colonies are often aggressive toward foreign species and very territorial. Keeping them together with other species in the same setup is therefore not recommended.