Myrmecia pilosula

The jack jumper is one of Australia’s most talked-about ants, and Myrmecia pilosula earns the reputation: it actually jumps, leaping toward prey and intruders instead of simply charging. It is smaller than most bull ants but every bit as intense, foraging by day with sharp eyesight and a quick temper. Founding is semi-claustral, so the queen hunts while raising her first workers, making the early stage hands-on. The sting is potent and the Crazy rating is no exaggeration, so this is strictly a species for expert keepers who want one of the hobby’s most distinctive ants up close.

A jumping ambush hunter that takes live and freshly killed insects, leaping onto prey and subduing it with a quick sting. The insects feed the brood, while foragers drink sugar water and nectar to power their fast, twitchy movements.

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

Found this small jack-jumper in a test tube and move it on once workers fill the floor and brood shows. A compact ytong or acrylic nest at moderate humidity keeps the colony comfortable rather than lost in empty space, with an arena that still gives room to hunt. These ants leap and sting, so escape control matters most: line the rim with fluon (PTFE) or talc and water and keep lids closed. ANTonTOP formicaria and starter kits bring a sized nest, arena and barrier together so a jumping species stays put.

These small bull ants suit slightly cooler, drier conditions: keep the nest at 18-23 °C and the arena at 20-25 °C. Hold nest humidity at 55-70% and let the arena run drier at 45-60%. Heat one end only so the ants can choose their spot along the gradient. No hibernation is required, so keep them active and feeding through the year.

Jack jumpers build at a steady, unhurried pace, with a mature colony reaching around 1,000 workers over time. Each generation of brood matures gradually, so the colony grows in measured steps. It comes as a queen with workers and brood, giving you a settled founding group from the start.

• The jack jumper sting is medically serious in parts of Australia, responsible for severe allergic reactions and the subject of a dedicated desensitisation programme in Tasmania.
• Living up to the name, these ants jump, springing several body lengths toward prey or anything that disturbs the nest.
• Myrmecia pilosula belongs to a closely related species complex whose members look almost identical but differ in their chromosomes.
• One ant in this group is famous in genetics for carrying just a single pair of chromosomes, among the lowest counts known in animals.

Is Myrmecia pilosula good for beginners?

No, the jack jumper is Crazy difficulty with a painful sting, so it is for expert keepers.

Does the jack jumper need a winter rest?

No, hibernation is not required; keep it active and feeding year-round without lowering the temperature.

How dangerous is the jack jumper sting?

It has a painful sting rated Schmidt 2-3, and it jumps, so secure the lid.

How big does the colony get?

Up to 1,000 workers over time.

How large is the queen?

The queen measures 14-16 mm, with workers at 12-14 mm.

How quickly does the colony build up?

At a steady pace typical of the genus.

What does it eat?

Live insects such as crickets and flies, plus sugar water, nectar or jelly for energy.

Will it arrive alive?

Yes, we ship a queen with workers and brood, with a heat or cool pack, dispatched 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.