Anoplolepis custodiens
| Latin Name: |  |
Anoplolepis custodiens |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Lasiini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) show higher requirements to climate and nutrion |
| Distribution: |  |
Sub- Saharan Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbawe) |
| Habitat: |  |
open grassland |
| Colonyform: |  |
polygyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 13 - 15,8mm Colour: greyish brown, gaster darker, covert with silky pile |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 10mm Colour: reddish brown to greyish brown, Gaster darker, covert with silky pile, extremely polymorph (Minor, Media and Major workers) |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 8,5 - 10,8mm Colour: brown , slim |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 24 - 30°C Nestpart: 26 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in open soil |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/ Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam, Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Desertareas with stones and xerophyts |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Stones |
| Description: |  |
Anoplolepis custodiens is the most abundant ant in sub-saharan region. They are very aggressiv against other ants but show no intraspecific aggression. The recruit very fast to new feeding rescources and build long trails from the nest to the food. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: claustral (without feeding) - colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |