Tapinoma nigerrimum Queen Ant – Fast-Growing Ant Species

Tapinoma nigerrimum Queen Ant – Fast-Growing Ant Species

Description:
Tapinoma nigerrimum, also known as the shiny black ant, is an ideal species for those looking for an active, hardy, and fast-growing colony. Native to Mediterranean regions, it stands out for its aggressive behavior toward other species, speed, and ability to form large colonies. Thanks to its adaptability and easy feeding habits, it’s an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced myrmecologists.

The colony comes in a 12 mm diameter test tube.

Main Features

Omnivorous Species:
Tapinoma nigerrimum accepts a varied diet based on sugary liquids and protein sources. It does not eat seeds.

Size:
Workers measure between 2.5 and 3 mm, with a shiny black body. Although small, they move extremely fast and in large groups, offering a very dynamic observation experience.

Easy to Care For:
This species tolerates a wide range of humidity and temperature conditions, making it ideal for beginners. Its simple diet also makes maintenance easy.

Fascinating Behavior:
They form highly active and coordinated foraging trails, showing impressive organization in food transport. In nature, they can even form supercolonies with multiple queens.

Benefits for the Keeper

Hardy and Adaptable Species
Tapinoma nigerrimum adapts easily to different types of formicaria and is highly resistant to environmental stress—perfect for an easy start in ant keeping.

Ideal for Education and Observation
Their fast and coordinated behavior makes them a very entertaining species for daily observation. Their constant activity also makes them perfect for educational content or social media videos.

Easy Feeding
Feed them mainly with sweet liquids (sugar water or ByFormica Sunburst nectar) and proteins (live insects).

Rapid Growth
Their development cycle is short, and the queen can lay many eggs, allowing noticeable colony growth within a few weeks.

Care Instructions

Diet:
Offer sugary liquids several times per week and a protein source 2–3 times a week. Suitable options include mealworms, fruit flies, cockroaches, or crickets.

Habitat:
They can live in classic or Natura formicaria. Due to their small size, it’s recommended to ensure good ventilation to avoid excessive condensation.

Temperature and Humidity:

• Temperature: 20–28 °C

• Humidity: 40–70% in foraging areas and 50–80% in the nesting area

Hibernation:
In most cases, Tapinoma nigerrimum does not require hibernation. In colder regions, they may enter a mild dormancy if temperatures drop.

Ant Dimension Guarantees

Live Colony Guarantee
We ensure you receive an active, healthy colony. If any issue occurs during shipping, we provide a replacement.

Fertility Guarantee
All our colonies are founded by a fertile queen with active brood, ensuring continued development.

Mite- and Parasite-Free
Each colony is carefully inspected before shipping to ensure it’s completely pest-free.

Physical Integrity Guarantee
We verify that the queen is fully intact, with no damage to legs, antennae, or wings (for species that have not flown). We only ship specimens in excellent condition.

Support Guarantee
We offer after-sales support to guide you through care, answer your questions, and ensure a smooth, positive experience from day one.