Myrmecia simillima

Bull ants are a long game at the best of times, and Myrmecia simillima takes that further: queens in this genus can live well over a decade, so a healthy colony becomes a fixture rather than a passing project. It carries all the classic Australian Myrmecia traits, with large size, sharp eyesight and a fast, defensive temper that keeps the arena interesting. Founding is semi-claustral, with the queen hunting while she raises her first brood. The Crazy rating and a painful sting mean it belongs with expert keepers ready for a colony that can stay with them for years.

A sighted predator that brings in live and freshly killed insects, overpowering them with long jaws and a sting. The protein feeds growing brood, while foragers refuel on sugar water and nectar between hunts.

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

Found the colony in a test tube and graduate it once workers blanket the floor and brood builds. A moisture-holding ytong or hybrid nest works well here, paired with a large arena to suit an active, fast-moving hunter. As a stinging genus that climbs when stirred, it wants a reliable escape barrier: fluon (PTFE) on smooth walls, talc and water as a fallback. ANTonTOP formicaria and starter kits combine the nest, arena and barrier in one set sized for a strong bull-ant colony.

Run the nest at 20-25 °C and the arena a little warmer at 22-27 °C. Keep nest humidity at 60-75% and the arena drier at 50-65%. A single heated end gives a gradient the ants can move along to find their preferred warmth. There is no cold rest to manage, so keep the colony fed and active across the whole year.

Bull ants grow at a measured pace, and this colony reaches around 1,000 workers over time. With genus queens living up to 15 years, a single founding queen can head the colony for many seasons, so the slow build is part of a long relationship. It arrives as a queen with workers and brood, already through the risky founding stage.

• Myrmecia queens are remarkably long-lived for the worker force they head, with reigns measured in many years.
• Bull ants hunt by sight, tracking and lunging at moving prey in a way few other ants manage.
• The genus keeps an ancient social setup, foraging as individuals rather than recruiting nestmates along trails.
• Myrmecia venom is medically significant in Australia and a recognised cause of severe allergic reactions.

Is Myrmecia simillima good for beginners?

No, the Crazy difficulty and painful sting make it an expert-level species.

Does Myrmecia simillima need a winter rest?

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

Does this bull ant sting or bite?

Yes, it has a painful sting rated Schmidt 2-3.

How big does the colony get?

Up to 1,000 workers over time.

How large is the Myrmecia simillima queen?

The queen measures 20-24 mm, with workers at 16-22 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Steadily, and with genus queens living up to 15 years, the colony can be led for many seasons.

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.