The Mediterranean acrobat ant (Crematogaster scutellaris) is a common arboreal (tree-dwelling) ant species native to the Mediterranean Basin, Southern Europe, and North Africa.
Key Characteristics
• Appearance: Easily recognized by its bright red/orange head, dark brown or black thorax, and a distinct heart-shaped black abdomen (gaster).
• Size: Workers measure about 3.5 to 5 mm long, while queens are larger at 7 to 9 mm.
• Acrobat Behavior: When disturbed or feeling threatened, workers raise their pointed, heart-shaped abdomen upward and over their thorax and head. From this position, they can emit a defensive pheromone or spray formic acid.
• Nesting: They nest primarily in dead wood, under tree bark, in cork oak forests, and occasionally in old structural timber or wall crevices.
Diet and Ecology
• Diet: They feed heavily on sugary liquids—especially honeydew produced by sap-feeding insects like aphids (which they sometimes tend or shelter)—as well as small insects and protein sources.
• Colony Structure: They are monogynous (typically one queen per colony), form fast-growing populations, and often link multiple satellite nests via foraging trails.
• Winter Rest: They undergo a period of reduced activity or hibernation from late autumn to early spring (roughly November to February).
