Cataglyphis livida

Cataglyphis livida is a pro cataglyphis from North Africa and the Mediterranean. Dull lead-grey body with paler legs. A small grey Mediterranean desert runner — the species name describes its livid, leaden colour. Cataglyphis — desert runners famous for path-integration navigation and explosive midday foraging speeds.

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. Dry sand substrate suits this desert genus — keep one humid corner only.

Keep the nest at 24–32 °C during the active season, with one cooler shaded zone for the queen. 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: small fresh-frozen and thawed insects 2–3 times per week (flightless fruit flies, small crickets). Sugar water 1–2 times per week. They process meals quickly thanks to their high metabolism.

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.

Winter rest is essential for this species. Light winter rest at 12–16 °C for 2 months. Drop temperature gradually over 2 weeks, keep the colony in a cool, dark, draft-free place, check humidity weekly, and resume normal feeding when temperatures rise again in spring. Skipping hibernation shortens queen life and disrupts brood cycles.

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 is an advanced species for experienced keepers only. Specialised diet, temperature control, or temperament makes it unsuitable for first colonies. Make sure you have the setup and confidence to keep it 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 Ernest André in 1881 from Algeria — the species name (livida = leaden, grey) describes the dull body colour.
• Ranges across North Africa from Morocco to Egypt and into parts of southern Iberia and the Levant.
• One of the smaller Cataglyphis species — workers rarely exceed 7 mm.
• Workers forage individually across rocky ground at extreme midday temperatures, like all desert runners.
• An advanced species for keepers experienced with arid-zone ant biology and minimal cooling demands.

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 do not sting and rarely bite 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.

Can I skip hibernation?

No. Hibernation is essential for this temperate species — queens need the cold rest to maintain long-term fertility and brood cycles.

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.