Tetramorium bicarinatum

Species: Tetramorium bicarinatum
Care Difficulty: Medium to hard
Caste Formation: No
Queen: approx. 5 – 6 mm
Worker: approx. 3 mm
Founding Type: Polygynous, practices inbreeding (new reproductives mate directly inside the nest, usually without a nuptial flight)
Origin / Locality: Originally from the Indo-Pacific region, now spread pantropically (tramp species)
Number of Queens: Polygynous
Care Temperature: 18 – 30 °C
Humidity: 65 – 75 %
Diet: Primarily proteins (e.g. fruit flies, small insects), honey water or sugar water as a supplement
Winter Dormancy: No, active year-round

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tetramorium bicarinatum:

Advantages:
Active year-round, no winter dormancy needed, uncomplicated founding without a nuptial flight.

Disadvantages:
As a pantry/household ant with invasive potential, this species is not suitable for beginners – high protein demand and unicolonial growth with potentially very large colonies.

Care:
Test tube nest at first, later a nest at 18 – 30 °C and 65 – 75 % humidity.

Feeding:
Offer proteins regularly and generously, as demand is high. Honey or sugar water as a supplement.