Tetramorium caespitum
Tetramorium caespitum
- Level: Para empezar
- Hibernation: Yes (Principios de noviembre a mediados de marzo)
Requires hibernation — not suitable if you can't lower the temperature in winter.
Live animal shipping
- Shipped Mondays and Tuesdays
- Includes heat pack and insulated box, at no extra cost
- We hold the shipment if your area drops below 5 °C or goes above 30 °C. We'll let you know beforehand.
At no extra cost. We'll message you before shipping.
Live arrival guarantee
If the colony arrives dead, we'll replace it or refund you. Here are the full terms, right here.
- Claim window
- 48 hours from delivery
- Proof required
- Photos or video of the unopened package and its contents as they arrive.
- What's covered
- The queen, always. Workers, if more than 20% arrive dead.
- What we do
- Replacement on the next available shipment or a refund. You choose.
- What voids it
- A package left outside or not collected after the delivery notice.
Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited. In Spain this is a punishable offense under nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations.
Tetramorium caespitum: ant colony
The Tetramorium caespitum colony is a practical option if you want to start with an active queen and workers from day one.
- Requires a prepared setup and calm observation during acclimation.
- Lets you start with a young Tetramorium caespitum colony.
- We recommend preparing food and hydration before she arrives.
Before you buy: Have the setup ready before she arrives so acclimation goes more smoothly.
Species profile
Identificación
- Nombre científico
- Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Subfamilia
- Myrmicinae
- Distribución
- Europa hasta Siberia occidental; muy común en zonas urbanas, aceras y suelos compactados, incl. Península Ibérica
- Forma de colonia
- Monoginia
Tamaño
- Reina (mm)
- 7.5
- Obrera (mm)
- 2-4 mm (poco polimórfica)
- Polimorfismo
- No
- Casta soldado
- No
Condiciones
- Temperatura del nido (°C)
- 22-27 °C
- Temperatura del área de forrajeo (°C)
- 20-28 °C
- Humedad del nido (%)
- 50-60%
- Humedad del área de forrajeo (%)
- 30-50%
Ciclo
- Hibernación
- Sí
- Ventana de hibernación
- Principios de noviembre a mediados de marzo
- Temperatura de hibernación (°C)
- 8-14 °C
- Tipo de fundación
- Claustral
- Época de vuelo nupcial
- Verano, julio-agosto
Desarrollo
- Velocidad de crecimiento
- Rápida
- Tamaño máximo de la colonia
- Hasta unos 10 000 individuos
- Longevidad de la colonia
- Reinas hasta unos 15 años (fuente de aficionados, no paper científico; usar con cautela)
- Dieta
- Insectos, Semillas, Azúcares y melaza
Estado legal en España: Nativa
Actual size
- Moneda de 1 €
- 23,25 mm
- Reina
- 7,5 mm
Scale comparison. The queen is the largest individual in the colony.
How does the colony travel?
The colony travels in its test tube with a water reservoir, inside an insulated box and with a heat pack when needed. We ship on Mondays and Tuesdays so the package doesn't spend the weekend in a warehouse.
What if it's very cold or very hot?
We hold the shipment while your area is below 5 °C or above 30 °C, and we'll let you know beforehand. You can also request this yourself by checking “Hold my shipment until the weather is safe” when adding to cart.
What happens if it arrives dead?
Message us within 48 hours of delivery with photos or a video of the unopened package and its contents. We'll replace the colony on the next available shipment or refund you: you choose.
Can I release the ants into the wild if I give up the hobby?
No. Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited and constitutes a punishable offence under Spanish nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations. Message us and we'll help you find a responsible solution.