Crematogaster matsumurai

These ants are often found on forest floors foraging for food. They often collect honeydew from pieces of bark and drag in dead inects into their nest. They do like to avoid conflict, but they do not pass on an oportunity to drag dead prey back to their nest. This species of Crematogaster, like so many others, like to raise their gaster when they feel threatened, which is why they are often called scorpion ants.

Size & colony type
Queen: aprox. 6mm – 7mm
Workers: aprox. 2,5mm – 3,5mm
Soldiers: n/a
Colony type: polygyne
Colony size: about 4,000 – 5,000 workers per colony
Keeping difficulty: Fairly easy.

Habitat
Distribution: Asia
Habitat: often found in rainforests
Natural nest: they often build their nests in pieces of dead wood
Suitable formicaria: Ytong-, plaster-, 3D- and acrylicnests are all suitable for this species
Recommended humidity: 50% – 80%
Recommended temperature: 21°C – 28°C
Nutrition: a sugar source such as honey or sugarwater and a protein source such as prey insects like crickets or fruitflies. Insect jelly is also a suitable feeder since it contains both sugar and protein and varius other beneficial components

Misc
Hibernation: no
Claustral: yes, no need to feed until the first workers arrive
Matingflight period: july – august
Egg to worker: 6 to 8 weeks depending on how they are being kept