Crematogaster scutellaris
(Olivier, 1792)
Acrobat ant
Raises its heart-shaped gaster when disturbed and loves nesting in wood.
Based on my own colonies and checked against AntWiki, AntWeb and published sources.
At a glance
- Nest temperature
- 21–25 °CIn the nest
- Nest humidity
- 50–60 %In the nest
- Hibernation
- 8–12 °COct – Mar
- Nuptial flights
- Aug – Oct
- Workers
- 3–5 mmAll the same size
- Queen
- 7–9 mmOne queen
- Colony size
- Reaches 1,000 workersGrowth: Very fast
- Escape risk
- MediumKeep an escape barrier on the outworld
Year at a glance
Hibernation : Oct – Mar
Active season : Apr – Sep
Nuptial flights : Aug – Oct
Months for temperate Europe and the Mediterranean. The weather decides the exact days, so flights can come earlier or later where you live.
How to recognize it
Workers with a red head, a dark body and a heart-shaped gaster that they lift above their head when disturbed. In the wild you will often find them in dead trees and old wood.
Often confused with
- Crematogaster schmidti
- Workers3–5 mm
- Queen7–9 mm
mm
Biology
- Queens
- One queenEach colony has a single queen: never put two queens together once the first workers arrive.In the glossary
- Colony founding
- Fully claustralThe queen raises her first workers without eating, living off her wing muscles and fat reserves.In the glossary
- Workers
- All the same sizeAll the workers have about the same size and shape.
- Defense
- Bites · Smears venomNo sting for people: the workers bite and smear a strong-smelling venom from the tip of the gaster.
Native range
- Europe
- North Africa
Algeria, Croatia, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia
Taxonomy
Myrmicinae › Crematogastrini
Crematogaster
Care at a glance
Difficulty
Why this rating
- Makes it easier: Fully claustral: the queen needs no food until her first workers arrive
- Makes it harder: Curious workers: keep an escape barrier on the outworld
- Makes it harder: Grows very fast and needs plenty of protein and space
Food
- Sugar
- Insects
Sugar or honey water for the workers, and insects as protein for the queen and the brood.
Best nests
- 1Wooden nest
- 2Ytong nest
- 3Acrylic nest
From my colonies
Tip
A wooden nest is the natural choice for this species: they love nesting in wood, and a wooden nest needs no watering and very little maintenance.
Tip
Keep honey on hand, because they love it: a small drop also gives a newly founded queen the energy she needs, without any protein.
Watch out
When they feel threatened they release a strong-smelling defensive venom, so give the outworld plenty of ventilation holes or a lid that is easy to remove. In a big colony the smell can build up and stress the whole colony.
Watch out
They grow very fast and the brood needs a lot of protein, so keep insects on offer once the first workers arrive.
Care guide and related posts
How To Care for Crematogaster scutellaris
In this guide you will learn how to care for Crematogaster scutellaris! Temperature, humidity, food, hibernation, nest type... and much more!
How to Make a Wooden Nest - Ant Keeping Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a wooden nest for your ant colonies! This type of nest is perfect for species that love wood!
How To Hibernate Your Ants - Hibernation Tutorial
In this guide, we’re going to talk about hibernation: What is it? Why do ants need hibernation? Should I hibernate my ants? Let's see!
How To Make a Test Tube Setup - Ant Keeping Basics
In this tutorial you will learn how to make a test tube setup, the best way to create the optimal environment for a newly mated queen ant!
FAQs
6When the workers are disturbed they lift their heart-shaped gaster high above their head, like an acrobat. It is a warning and defense posture, and they can release a strong-smelling defensive venom at the same time. All the Crematogaster species do it, which is why the whole genus is called acrobat ants.
Crematogaster scutellaris workers measure 3–5 mm, and the queen measures 7–9 mm.
Just one. Crematogaster scutellaris is monogyne: each colony has a single queen, so never put two queens together once the first workers arrive.
No. Crematogaster scutellaris workers cannot sting through human skin: they bite and smear a strong-smelling defensive venom from the tip of their raised gaster.
In temperate Europe and the Mediterranean, Crematogaster scutellaris usually flies in Aug – Oct. The weather decides the exact days.
Crematogaster scutellaris is not on the EU list of invasive alien species and is not protected in the countries we checked. Rules differ between countries and can change, so check your local laws first.
Sources and review
Bruma's own colonies
Care
- 1AntWiki: Crematogaster scutellaris
Reference · Taxonomy, Biology, Distribution
- 2AntWeb: Crematogaster scutellaris
Reference · Taxonomy, Biology
- 3Wikipedia: Crematogaster scutellaris
Reference · Taxonomy, Biology, Distribution
- 4Wikipedia (French): Crematogaster scutellaris
Reference · Taxonomy, Biology, Distribution, Nuptial flights
- 5EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Implementing Regulation 2016/1141, consolidated)
Reference · Legal status
Last reviewed
- BiologyWell documented
- Care valuesWell documented
- Nuptial flightsKeeper consensus
Legal status
Not on the EU list of invasive alien species and not protected in the countries we checked. Rules differ between countries and can change, so check your local laws before buying or collecting a queen.
Checked on October 10, 2026
All values are starting points: watch your colony and adjust. Found something wrong or missing?
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