Harpegnathos venator
 
Geographical distribution: This species is found throughout Central Asia.
 
Polygyne or monogynous species, but can also have gamergates (working workers with a fertilised gem)
 
Description of individuals:
 
Queen: Measures between 13 and 15 mm, black in colour with manidules in front like yellow lances.
 
Workers: size between 11 and 14 mm, black in colour with manidules in front like yellow lances.
 
Male: Males measure about 10 mm and are black in colour.
 
Diet: Feeds on honeydew and insects, such as flies, meal worms, mosquitoes and small locusts, being a ponerine it will particularly appreciate more frequent insect feeding.
 
Environmental conditions:
 
Humidity: The hunting area must have a humidity of 60 to 70%, while the nest must maintain a humidity between 70 and 80%.
 
Temperature: The hunting area must be maintained at a temperature of 22 to 28 °C, while the nest must be between 25 and 27 °C.
 
Hibernation: this is not necessary since our colonies come from southern Thailand.
 
Type of nest: it must be natural with soil with the larvae being able to weave, an alternative is possible with a horizontal plexi flat nest with a little terra inside.
 
Description: Harpegnathos venator is nicknamed "the jumping ants", it is very aggressive and has a dart that they will regularly use to hunt or defend themselves. It is a species with a particular morphology that will delight breeders for hierarchical behaviour and their atypical physics.
 
Foundation: The foundation of the colony is done in a claustral way (i.e. without external feeding), and the development of the egg to the worker takes about 50 days, depending on the temperature. The Queen's Foundation alone is very hard and is really not recommended.
 
Colony size: A colony of Harpengnathos venator can have up to 300-800 individuals with often several queens that appear thanks to an intra-nidal swarming.