Meranoplus bicolor

Meranoplus bicolor is a intermediate meranoplus from Southeast Asia and Australia. Two-toned: bright red mesosoma covered by a sculpted shield, with a darker gaster. A shield-backed Old World ant – the dorsal shield covers the entire mesosoma like a tortoise’s shell. Meranoplus – shield-backed ants of arid Old World habitats with dramatic dorsal armour.

Start the founded queen in a sealed glass test tube setup until the colony reaches 15–20 workers. Then move to a small-to-medium formicarium of acrylic, ytong or plaster with a connected outworld. Add red filter film or a dark cover to give the colony a sense of nest darkness.

Keep the nest at 22–28 °C during the active season. Humidity in the nest chambers should sit around 40–65 %, with one wetter zone the colony can choose. Avoid direct sun and heavy hot spots – gentle ambient warmth from a low-wattage heat mat on one wall is ideal.

Sugar source: sugar source (honey water or ant jelly) 2–3 times per week + fresh-frozen and thawed insects 1–2 times per week. Increase protein when brood is present.

Protein: fresh frozen and thawed insects – crickets, mealworms, fruit flies, cockroaches – 1–2 times per week. Increase frequency when brood is present.

Variety helps: rotate prey species so the colony gets a balanced amino-acid profile; never feed only mealworms.

Hydration: always offer plain water on a separate cotton, never let the test tube reservoir run dry.

Hygiene: remove leftover insects after 24 hours to prevent mould and mites.

This species does not require a winter hibernation. Keep it at room temperature year-round. Activity may slow naturally during shorter winter days – that is normal and you can simply feed a little less during low-activity weeks.

Apply PTFE escape barrier on the top inner edge of the outworld – reapply every few months.

Use a tight lid with fine mesh; check it after every cleaning.

Inspect the formicarium silicone joints and tubing connectors monthly.

Keep the outworld dry on the inside edge where PTFE is applied – wet PTFE loses grip.

Never disturb the queen during founding. Keep her in the dark, in a test tube, with minimal vibration.

Move the colony to a formicarium only when there are 15–20 workers and the test tube is genuinely full.

Always offer water on a separate cotton outside the food.

Quarantine any new insect feed for 24 hours before offering it to the colony.

Avoid synthetic fragrances, smoke and aerosols in the room with the colony.

This species is best for keepers who already maintained at least one founded colony. The care needs are not extreme, but the temperament or environmental requirements need attention. Read the care information and contact us with questions before ordering.

Your colony ships in a sealed glass test tube with a cotton water reservoir and a cotton plug – the same setup we use ourselves. It is packed in an insulated, padded shipping box. We hand-pick every colony, count workers and inspect the queen on the day of dispatch.

• Described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1844 from Australia – the species name (bicolor) describes the two-toned colouration.
• Ranges across India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
• Has a dramatic dorsal shield covering the mesosoma – a defensive structure unique to the genus.
• Common in dry open habitats – savanna, dry forest, and disturbed agricultural land.
• Workers feign death when disturbed – tuck the legs and antennae and drop to the ground.

How big can the colony grow?

monogyne, claustral founding, modest colonies of 500–1500 workers. Growth is steady but not explosive – give the colony 1–2 years to reach a few hundred workers.

Is this species safe around children and pets?

Workers rarely bite or sting if the formicarium is intact. As with any live insect, supervise children around the setup and keep it out of reach of curious pets.

Will the colony arrive alive?

Yes. We use insulated, padded boxes and ship only on weekdays when forecasted weather along the route is safe. If anything goes wrong in transit, contact us within 24 hours of delivery with an unboxing video.

Will it slow down in winter even without hibernation?

Many tropical and subtropical ants naturally reduce activity in winter even at room temperature. This is normal; feed a little less during quiet weeks.

Can I see this species in your video shorts?

We post regular video shorts of feeding sessions, brood close-ups and worker behaviour on our social channels.