Crematogaster modiglianii

This island acrobat ant is a forgiving first species that gives a lot of movement for little fuss. Its multi-queen colonies have more than one egg-layer, so growth is brisk and an early setback rarely sets the nest back for long, which is exactly what helps while you are still learning. Coming from a lowland tropical home, it stays active the year round with no winter break to plan around. The small, energetic workers swarm the arena once the colony gets going, and it rewards anyone who enjoys watching a large working colony build up rather than a handful of big ants.

A sugar-loving omnivore that gathers honeydew from sap-feeders and seeks out nectar, while insect prey raises the brood. Workers want a constant carbohydrate source, with protein offered for larval growth.

★★★ readily · ★★ moderately · ★ occasionally · ✗ not eaten

A founding colony ships in a test tube and is happiest left there until the first workers mature. As it grows, move it into a small moisture-holding nest, ytong or hybrid, that comfortably sits at the high 70-85% this lowland tropical ant prefers, with an attached arena and a little climbing structure. These are capable climbers, so line the arena rim with fluon (PTFE) or an oil or talc-and-water barrier and keep tubing connections sealed. Browse the ANTonTOP formicaria range and beginner kits to match a humid nest to your colony’s stage.

Set the nest warm and humid at 24-27 °C with 70-85% humidity, and the arena a touch warmer at 25-29 °C and a drier 60-75%. A cooler 24 °C side and a warm 29 °C side let the ants self-regulate. As a lowland tropical species there is no hibernation to manage; hold warmth and moisture steady and keep feeding straight through winter.

Crematogaster build quickly once the first workers appear, and the multi-queen structure here pushes the early stages along faster still, climbing toward a ceiling of 20,000 workers with steady warmth and protein. Brood takes about 5-7 weeks egg to adult. You receive the founding colony: the queens, their first workers, and brood.

• This is one of myrmecology’s best-studied cases of parabiosis: in Bornean and Sumatran forests it shares the same nest with the carpenter ant Camponotus rufifemur, the two species living side by side with little aggression.
• It tends to find food first and recruit faster, while its Camponotus partner is the stronger nest defender, so each benefits from the other.
• The species was named after Elio Modigliani, the Italian explorer whose island collections Carlo Emery worked on when he described it.
• Researchers have traced unusual surface chemicals on these ants that act as appeasement signals, helping keep the cross-species partnership peaceful.
• The genus as a whole flips its heart-shaped gaster overhead when alarmed and wipes a defensive secretion on rivals with a blunt, spatula-tipped sting rather than stabbing.

Is Crematogaster modiglianii good for beginners?

Yes. It is rated Beginner, founds claustrally without help, and as a polygyne species the colony is resilient and grows quickly, forgiving for first-time keepers.

Does this Mentawai acrobat ant need a winter rest?

No. It is a tropical species from the Mentawai Islands and stays active all year, so keep warmth and feeding steady through winter with no cooling period.

Does Crematogaster modiglianii sting or bite?

It has a mild bite and a sting, but both are gentle; acrobat ants are not aggressive stingers and pose no real concern.

How big does the colony get?

A mature colony can reach up to 20,000 workers, so plan for a roomy formicarium and outworld as it expands.

How big is the queen?

The queen measures 8-9 mm, with workers a small 3-4.5 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Fast. Crematogaster build quickly, and the polygyne, multi-queen structure speeds the early stages with stable warmth and regular protein.

What do they eat?

Sugars are the staple (sugar water, nectar, jelly), with insect protein such as crickets and flies for the brood. Seeds are not eaten.

Will the ants arrive alive?

Yes. We ship live with a live-arrival guarantee, add a heat or cold pack to suit the season, and dispatch within 24 h with tracking.

Escape prevention. Coat the inner rim of every open arena with fluon (PTFE), or use talc-and-water or an oil barrier as a backup, and keep a tight, fine-mesh lid on top. Check the barrier regularly, since dust, condensation and feeding debris break a fluon line over time. Keep tubing connectors tight and seal any gaps in the nest.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten insect prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses a young colony. A water-filled test tube plugged with cotton makes an ideal spare incubator whenever you need one.

Before you buy – do not rehouse too early. Have a test-tube setup or a small formicarium with an outworld and a working barrier ready before your colony arrives. A founding colony grows slowly at first, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites and stress, and the workers die off one by one. Keep the colony in its open test tube on the arena, plug the nest entrance with cotton, and open up the next chambers only once the colony fills roughly 10-15% of the space.

What we ship. Every colony ships with a live-arrival guarantee, backed by our 24h unboxing-video guarantee: if the queen does not arrive alive, we reship free. Parcels travel with DHL, InPost (PL) or EMS, with a heat or cold pack to suit the season, packed discreetly and securely. We ship across the EU and worldwide, with free shipping over the Europe threshold.