7 replies to this topic

[Billi]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a special species for my favorite arena. It has a dry, desert-like theme with red rock formations—almost like Mars. I’d like a species that enjoys climbing, as the structure allows for movement across different levels. However, I don’t want them nesting in the structure itself since I plan to provide a separate nest.

Ideally, I’m looking for arboreal ants that will still accept a separate ground-based nest (soil, cork, or concrete) instead of modifying the structure. I want to avoid species that might cover it with silk or turn it into their main nesting site.

Also, the arena’s colors might make yellow ants harder to see. The windows in the structure are open, so ants can explore inside, but again, I don’t want them to settle there.

Any suggestions?

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[Artisan_Ants]

I assume that Crematogaster might work (although most are dark in color so it might look kind of boring against the background). I’ve heard that some species in this genus are found in deserts, but finding the right species that may live in this biome in the wild could be tricky.

[ANTdrew]

I was also thinking that Crematogaster would be a good choice. They don’t mind dry conditions, but some will probably start nesting in those crannies. As long as the nest is warmer and more humid than the arena, the queen and brood will stay there.

[bmb1bee]

Crematogaster is a good choice, but Liometopum (if those are available where you're at) would be great in that outworld too. I was thinking that the outworld complimented their colors pretty well.

[Billi]

Thank you for suggesting Crematogaster! I'm now considering them and reading more about them, but I'm a bit worried that they might try to nest inside the structure. They seem to like tight spaces, and there are plenty of small crevices in the construction that they might find appealing.

I also wanted to ask for some advice. So far, I've considered the following ants:

Myrmecocystus mexicanus – I'm considering this species the least because they don’t naturally live on trees. However, they do thrive in desert-like environments, which matches the arena's setting (sand, etc.). The downside is that their coloration might blend into the background, but their behavior is fascinating to observe.

Cataglyphis – These ants also don’t climb trees, but they live in sandy, desert-like habitats, so the decoration would suit them perfectly. They are usually black or dark-colored, which means they would stand out well against the structure. They are beautiful, fast, and have long legs. However, I’m unsure if they would use the structure at all since they aren’t natural climbers.

Camponotus singularis – These are my top choice so far. They are stunning, large, and have a natural shine. They are also dark-colored, so they would be clearly visible in the arena. Since they live in trees, they would make use of the structure and climb. Unfortunately, there is a downside— they come from tropical rainforests, which doesn’t match the current arena theme. I’d have to add some grass, moss, or other elements to make it feel more suitable. Another concern is that they might try to nest inside the structure, but I could provide the right conditions in a cork or concrete nest to encourage them to settle there instead.

So, unfortunately, all of my current choices have some drawbacks, which is why I’m still searching for the right species. Do you have any other suggestions?

[ANTdrew]

Crematogaster will not really nest in the outworld. As I said earlier, as long the nest is warmer and more humid than the outworld, the queen and brood will be kept there. Any large colony of ants will exploit those gaps as satellite nests for workers to hang out in and rest. You cannot prevent that, so it shouldn’t factor into your decision.

[Billi]

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I just ordered Crematogaster senegalensis because it lives in a desert climate, savanna, etc. It will fit well with the setup. Since it lives in trees, it will be suitable for the structure, and its dark color will make it less visible in the external world. Additionally, it is one of the larger Crematogaster species, which I personally like.

I’m curious about the colony size of Crematogaster senegalensis because I find conflicting information on different websites. Has anyone kept this species and knows how large their colonies can get?

Also, I see that Crematogaster scutellaris is the most popular among Crematogaster species. Why is that, and how does it compare to C. senegalensis?

[ANTdrew]

Well, C. scutellaris are native and common in Europe, so they are popular there. Crematogaster cerasi are more popular on this side of the Atlantic.