Crematogaster senegalensis

The signature heart-shaped gaster, held cocked over the back, makes this one of the more characterful acrobat ants to watch, and it does it constantly as the workers stream out to forage. Coming from Sub-Saharan Africa, it is a warm-climate ant that stays active all year with no hibernation to manage, so there is no awkward winter routine to learn. A single queen keeps things simple at the start, and the colony fills out quickly into a busy, populous nest. Low fuss, fast growth and near-constant movement make it a satisfying way into ant keeping, and the sting is mild.

A sugar-first omnivore in the acrobat-ant style: workers gather honeydew from sap-feeding bugs and seek out nectar, while insect prey feeds the fast-growing brood. Keep carbohydrate on tap and offer protein for the larvae.

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

Keep the founding queen in a test tube, then move to a small ytong or acrylic nest with an arena once she has workers. This acrobat ant leans arboreal but settles happily in a ground nest, so add cork or a twig for height and keep humidity around a moderate 55-70%. Upgrade once workers fill two-thirds of the chambers, as it climbs fast. The small 2-5 mm workers slip through gaps, so use a reliable fluon (PTFE), oil, or talc-and-water rim and snug lids. ANTonTOP formicaria and kits suit this fast-growing tropical colony.

Run the nest at 24-27 °C and the arena at 25-29 °C, with nest humidity of 55-70% and the arena at 45-60%. Warm a single side, with a small mat or cable on the nest edge, so the colony can choose where to sit. As a tropical species there is no hibernation; keep it warm and feeding right through winter.

The colony fills out quickly once the first workers are working, climbing toward 10,000 over time. Brood takes about 4-7 weeks from egg to worker, and the tiny workers against a large queen make each new generation stand out. You receive a queen with her workers and brood.

• The genus is known as the acrobat or cocktail ant for the way the gaster is carried overhead, and as the Saint Valentine ant for its heart-shaped outline.
• Here the contrast is dramatic, with workers just 2-5 mm under a 12-15 mm queen, large for the genus.
• The overhead flip is built into the body: the postpetiole attaches to the top of the gaster, so the abdomen can fold forward over the back.
• Crematogaster does not stab; the sting tip is blunt and spatulate, used to wipe a defensive secretion onto an attacker.
• Like its relatives it farms honeydew, guarding sap-feeding insects in return for their sugar.

Is Crematogaster senegalensis good for beginners?

Yes. It is rated beginner-level, founds claustrally without your help, and needs no hibernation, so it is forgiving while you learn.

Does the West African acrobat ant need a winter rest?

No. This tropical species stays active all year, so keep feeding and keep it warm through winter.

Does Crematogaster senegalensis sting or bite?

It has a mild sting and tends to raise its gaster (the acrobat-tail display) rather than attack; it is not a species that causes real concern.

How big can the colony get?

Up to 10,000 workers in a mature monogyne colony.

How large is the queen?

The queen is 12-15 mm; workers are small at 2-5 mm.

How fast does a Crematogaster senegalensis colony grow?

Quickly for its size, building toward a large population once the first workers are on the job.

What does it eat?

Sugar water or nectar/jelly for energy plus insects such as crickets and flies for protein; it does not take seeds.

Will it arrive alive?

You receive a queen, workers and brood with a heat or cool pack, sent within 24 h with tracking to protect the colony in transit.

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.