Paltothyreus tarsatus

This ponerine is a fast, powerful predator with a memorable line of defence: a pungent secretion that earns it the common name African stink ant and makes any colony unmistakable. It is large and glossy, founds on a single queen, and builds into a bigger population than most ponerines manage, so an established nest stays properly active. Because the ants are so large, every individual is easy to follow as it forages. The semi-claustral founding and the sting put it in Pro territory rather than beginner, but for a keeper after a large, dramatic tropical hunter, tarsatus is hard to beat.

A fast, powerful ponerine omnivore that hunts live prey across the ground and also takes sugars. Keep a sugar source on hand for the workers and offer protein two to three times a week to push the brood along.

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

Founding is semi-claustral, so give the queen early food access: start in a test tube setup or a compact ANTonTOP starter kit. This big African ponerine likes warmth with moderate moisture, so house it in a hydratable formicarium that holds a middling damp level, with one steadily damp brood zone and chamber room for a large ant. Pair it with a generous hunting arena and enlarge the nest as the colony heads toward its 2,500-worker capacity. Keep an escape barrier on the arena: fluon (PTFE) on smooth walls, or oil where PTFE will not stick. ANTonTOP formicaria and starter kits bundle nest, arena and barrier.

A tropical African ant that likes warmth with moderate moisture. Hold the nest at 24-27 °C and the arena at 25-29 °C, with nest humidity 60-75% and arena humidity 50-65%. Set a warm-to-cool gradient with a heat mat on one side and keep a damp zone in the nest. It is tropical with no hibernation: keep it warm and fed all year round.

Ponerine growth is steady rather than explosive, but tarsatus runs larger than most of its relatives and can build toward 2,500 workers, ending up a busy, active colony over time. Upgrade housing as the population grows. You receive a queen with workers and brood, ready for a humid nest with early feeding access.

• The common name fits: when alarmed, this ant releases a strong, sulphurous defensive secretion you can smell from the enclosure.
• It is a large, fast ground hunter, with a queen reaching 23-25 mm and workers running up to 22 mm.
• Ponerines like this one are an ancient ant lineage, keeping body features closer to their wasp-like ancestors than most living ants.
• A queen of this genus can head her colony for well over a decade.

Is Paltothyreus tarsatus good for beginners?

No, it is a Pro-level ponerine with semi-claustral founding and a sting, suited to experienced keepers.

Does the African stink ant need a winter rest?

No. It is tropical and stays active all year; keep it warm and fed.

Does the stink ant sting or bite?

Yes, it has a sting plus a mild bite, and it can release a strong defensive odour, so do not handle it.

How big does this stink ant colony get?

Up to 2,500 workers, large for a ponerine.

How big is the queen?

The queen is 23-25 mm and workers are 15-22 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Steadily, eventually reaching a larger colony than most ponerines.

What does the stink ant feed on?

Mainly live insects such as crickets and flies, with sugar water or jelly on the side.

How is it shipped and will it arrive alive?

You get a queen with workers and brood plus a heat or cool pack, dispatched within 24 h with tracking for a fast, safe journey.

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.