★★★☆☆ Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Species: Colobopsis macrophella
Description:
Colobopsis macrophella is a small Australian ant species known for its unique colony structure and specialised major workers with enlarged, plug-like heads used for nest defence. Their discreet lifestyle and interesting colours make them a fascinating option for keepers.
Keeping Experience:
Keeping Colobopsis macrophella is a calm and collected species. Workers are not fast-moving and spend much of their time within the nest, making disturbances minimal. Colony growth is slow to moderate, rewarding patient keepers who enjoy subtle nest behaviour and long-term development. Their defensive and interestingly shaped majors add a unique biological interest rarely seen in other species.
Quick Care Guide:
Colony Founding Type: Claustral – queens rely on internal reserves until first workers emerge
Worker Size: 4–6 mm
Queen Size: 10–12 mm
Humidity: Moderate (humid nest with a drier outworld)
Housing: Test tube → formicarium
Substrate: Optional; wood, sand, or naturalistic setups
Diet:
sugars: Always available once workers emerge
Protein: Insects 1–2× weekly
Colony Growth: Slow to moderate
Ideal For:
✔ Intermediate keepers
✔ Behaviour-focused observation
✔ Long-term, low-disturbance setups
Guarantee:
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.
★★★☆☆ Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Species: Colobopsis macrophella
Description:
Colobopsis macrophella is a small Australian ant species known for its unique colony structure and specialised major workers with enlarged, plug-like heads used for nest defence. Their discreet lifestyle and interesting colours make them a fascinating option for keepers.
Keeping Experience:
Keeping Colobopsis macrophella is a calm and collected species. Workers are not fast-moving and spend much of their time within the nest, making disturbances minimal. Colony growth is slow to moderate, rewarding patient keepers who enjoy subtle nest behaviour and long-term development. Their defensive and interestingly shaped majors add a unique biological interest rarely seen in other species.
Quick Care Guide:
Colony Founding Type: Claustral – queens rely on internal reserves until first workers emerge
Worker Size: 4–6 mm
Queen Size: 10–12 mm
Humidity: Moderate (humid nest with a drier outworld)
Housing: Test tube → formicarium
Substrate: Optional; wood, sand, or naturalistic setups
Diet:
sugars: Always available once workers emerge
Protein: Insects 1–2× weekly
Colony Growth: Slow to moderate
Ideal For:
✔ Intermediate keepers
✔ Behaviour-focused observation
✔ Long-term, low-disturbance setups
Guarantee:
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.