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Product description
Black seed ant - Tetramorium caespitum colony with 20+ workers
Type
The black seed ant (Tetramorium caespitum, formerly grass ant) is a species of ant from the subfamily Myrmicinae. The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1758 by Linnaeus. The black seed ant occurs in temperate climates and lives mainly on the ground. There it occupies a territory with a diameter of about thirty meters. The workers do not actually move further than this territory, but this area is defended tooth and nail. The black seed ant is quite aggressive towards other ants, especially towards its own species. Fights are described between entire colonies against each other, in which thousands of ants fight for hours, biting each other, falling over each other, pulling each other and killing each other. More and more ants are being lured to the war zone by scent trails. With the large jaws, necessary for chewing the seeds, they can also fight well. It is a species that easily adapts to changes in the environment. It can usually be seen in sunny, dry places, sometimes in moist grasslands, but also in inhabited areas, especially between pavements. The nests are usually located under stones. The colonies are relatively large, with populations of up to about 10,000 workers. They usually contain several queens, each producing about five to forty eggs every day. Extensive tunnel systems are dug; this is good for the environment because of the aeration that takes place. The queen and males are considerably larger than the workers, measuring 8 mm and 3.3 mm in length respectively. The color is dark brown with somewhat lighter legs.
Suitable for
The ant colony is intended for the ant farms made of acrylic, plaster and sand. We also recommend using an arena. The ants can get their food there and take away waste. Many products have an arena integrated. At various ant farms you will find this ant colony in a combination price offer.
If you are looking for ants for a gel ant farm, we recommend the ant family.
Packaging and shipping
In the photo you can see how the product is actually delivered by us. The colony is in a test tube with a water supply behind a cotton ball to keep the nest tube partly moist. The colony can remain in this tube for up to a few weeks without care (after receipt). We also guarantee the queen's life for that long. If the queen does not arrive alive or if she dies within a few weeks, we will provide a replacement colony.
Specifications and information
Scientific name
Tetramorium caespitum
Dutch name
Black seed ant
Difficulty Rating
2. Advanced
Queen | Gyne:
6-8mm
Workers:
2-4 mm
The larger the colony, the larger the ants that join it
Type of colony:
Monogyn, 1 queen per nest.
Nest type:
Sand nests, relatively deep. Very wide, often under grass.
Temperature:
Room temperature, 15-30 degrees
Hibernation:
Winter rest
Nutrition:
Sugar or honey water and small insects:
Our advice for smaller colonies: fruit flies.
Humidity:
Simple. Advice: Keep the nest slightly moist
This species prefers drier conditions than, for example, Lasius
niger and Myrmica rubra.
Distribution area:
Europe
Ant farm advice:
Acrylic, Plaster or Sand including use of Arena area
Notes:
A nice, active little ant species
Black seed ant - Tetramorium caespitum colony with 20+ workers
Type
The black seed ant (Tetramorium caespitum, formerly grass ant) is a species of ant from the subfamily Myrmicinae. The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1758 by Linnaeus. The black seed ant occurs in temperate climates and lives mainly on the ground. There it occupies a territory with a diameter of about thirty meters. The workers do not actually move further than this territory, but this area is defended tooth and nail. The black seed ant is quite aggressive towards other ants, especially towards its own species. Fights are described between entire colonies against each other, in which thousands of ants fight for hours, biting each other, falling over each other, pulling each other and killing each other. More and more ants are being lured to the war zone by scent trails. With the large jaws, necessary for chewing the seeds, they can also fight well. It is a species that easily adapts to changes in the environment. It can usually be seen in sunny, dry places, sometimes in moist grasslands, but also in inhabited areas, especially between pavements. The nests are usually located under stones. The colonies are relatively large, with populations of up to about 10,000 workers. They usually contain several queens, each producing about five to forty eggs every day. Extensive tunnel systems are dug; this is good for the environment because of the aeration that takes place. The queen and males are considerably larger than the workers, measuring 8 mm and 3.3 mm in length respectively. The color is dark brown with somewhat lighter legs.
Suitable for
The ant colony is intended for the ant farms made of acrylic, plaster and sand. We also recommend using an arena. The ants can get their food there and take away waste. Many products have an arena integrated. At various ant farms you will find this ant colony in a combination price offer.
If you are looking for ants for a gel ant farm, we recommend the ant family.
Packaging and shipping
In the photo you can see how the product is actually delivered by us. The colony is in a test tube with a water supply behind a cotton ball to keep the nest tube partly moist. The colony can remain in this tube for up to a few weeks without care (after receipt). We also guarantee the queen's life for that long. If the queen does not arrive alive or if she dies within a few weeks, we will provide a replacement colony.
Specifications and information
| Scientific name | Tetramorium caespitum |
| Dutch name | Black seed ant |
| Difficulty Rating | 2. Advanced |
| Queen | Gyne: | 6-8mm |
| Workers: | 2-4 mm The larger the colony, the larger the ants that join it |
| Type of colony: | Monogyn, 1 queen per nest. |
| Nest type: | Sand nests, relatively deep. Very wide, often under grass. |
| Temperature: | Room temperature, 15-30 degrees |
| Hibernation: | Winter rest |
| Nutrition: | Sugar or honey water and small insects: Our advice for smaller colonies: fruit flies. |
| Humidity: | Simple. Advice: Keep the nest slightly moist This species prefers drier conditions than, for example, Lasius niger and Myrmica rubra. |
| Distribution area: | Europe |
| Ant farm advice: | Acrylic, Plaster or Sand including use of Arena area |
| Notes: | A nice, active little ant species |
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