Prenolepis nitens
| Latin Name: |  |
Prenolepis nitens |
| Trivialname: |  |
Honeyant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Unterfamilie: Formicinae Tribus: Lasiini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
1-2 |
| Distribution: |  |
South Eastern Europe to Austria (sporadically detected) |
| Habitat: |  |
deciduous forest, open areas |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyn, polygyn |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 8 - 10mm Colour: head and thorax brown to orange, gaster yellow/brown striped |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 4mm Colour: reddish brown |
| Soldier: |  |
no |
| Males: |  |
Size: Colour: black |
| Nutrition: |  |
Insects e.g. Dipterans like flies or mosquitos, honeywater, fruits |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 30°C Nestpart: 21 - 26°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from october to february |
| Nestform: |  |
build their nest in soil and dead wood |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: S - M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to forestareas with moss, grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Treeneedels |
| Description: |  |
Prenolepis nitens is coloquially known as "european honey pot ant". Some workers develop as honey pot ants, but actually it can't be compared withreal honey pot ants of genus Myrmecocystus. The swollen gasters are merely fat storages in its histoid, also the workers limitedly continue the parental/brood care. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: very early: from late March to late May founding: claustral (without feeding), maybe adoption colonysize: up to 20.000 individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
