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Canada Ant Colony

Liometopum luctuosum (Mourning Tree Ant)

Liometopum luctuosum (Mourning Tree Ant)

Regular price $74.99 CAD
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Colony Size

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They're large, they're fast growing, they're bombastic, Liometopum luctuosum. With massive colonies in the hundreds of thousands of workers, if they're in the area you're going to find out sooner or later especially with their massive trails. Their large monogynous queens will be sent out in the thousands during nuptial flights, and will found with dozens of nanitics, one of their most defining features. Workers will collect all sorts of sugary liquids and insects, ranging from small fruit flies to large beetles. They're well loved in Canada, and as a result can be a bit pricey. Not often known is that they actually exhibit a large extent of polymorphism, with distinct majors, larger ants, and distinct minors, smaller ants.

  Liometopum luctuosum have brown-gray queens and workers from 10-12 mm and 4-6 mm respectively. Though closely related to the species Liometopum occidentale, they can be separated by their more flat colouration.

  This species is not the best pick for beginners. Take care to make sure they have access to sugars at all times, but other than that they are very good at thriving. Perhaps too much, which gets to the main problem with them. With fast growth rates and large colonies, they can get out of control. They will escape eventually no matter what, but this can be mediated with Fluon or other escape preventing barriers.

Scientific Name: Liometopum luctuosum
Common Name: Mourning Tree Ant
Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Hymenoptera | Family: Formicidae | Subfamily: Dolichoderinae | Genus: Liometopum | Species: L. luctuosum
Care Difficulty: Liometopum luctuosum is an intermediate species.
Distribution:
This species can only be found in western North America.
Habitat: Generally in wooded areas.
Colony form:

This species is monogynous meaning they can only have one queen.

Queen: Queens of this species reach a size of around 10-12 mm.
Worker: Workers will approach 6-7 mm.
Nutrition: