Monomorium carbonarium

Name: Monomorium carbonarium
Origin: Canary Islands, now also naturalised in parts of Europe
Queen: approx. 4 – 5 mm
Workers: approx. 2 – 3 mm
Food: carbohydrates (honey, sugar water), protein (small insects)
Humidity: 40 – 60%
Temperature: 24 – 28 degrees (heat-loving species)
Winter Dormancy: No
Nest Type: Aerated concrete (Ytong), plaster or 3D-printed nests
Colony Size: Medium-sized, practises inbreeding (new queens and males mate within the nest)

Advantages and disadvantages of Monomorium carbonarium:

Advantages:
A deep black, noticeably larger relative of Monomorium floricola and chinense with fast growth and uncomplicated, year-round care without winter dormancy.

Disadvantages:
Very heat-loving and voracious – make sure to provide consistently warm conditions and enough protein. Still rarely documented in captivity.

Care:
Test tube nest at the start, later a nest made of aerated concrete (Ytong), plaster, or 3D print at consistently warm temperatures.

Feeding:
Offer honey or sugar water as well as feeder insects regularly – this species is very voracious.