Crematogaster auberti (Aubert's Acrobat Ant)

Introduction

Crematogaster auberti, also known as Aubert's Acrobat Ant, is a hardy and fascinating species native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa. Like all acrobat ants, they are named for their distinctive defensive behavior: when threatened, they arch their heart-shaped abdomens (gasters) up and over their thoraxes, a posture that resembles a miniature scorpion. This allows them to effectively deploy defensive secretions against any intruder. Crematogaster auberti is a favorite among European ant keepers because it combines the "cool factor" of this behavior with a robust, adaptable nature that makes them very easy to maintain in captivity.

In their natural environment, these ants are opportunistic scavengers and foragers, frequently found in dry, sunny areas like grasslands, olive groves, and rocky hillsides. While some acrobat ants are primarily arboreal, Crematogaster auberti is more grounded, often nesting under stones or in the soil, though they are still excellent climbers. They are highly active, fast-moving, and display a level of coordination that makes watching their foraging trails a truly engaging experience.

Taxonomy and Distribution

Crematogaster auberti belongs to the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus Crematogaster is one of the most easily recognizable in the ant world due to the dorsal attachment of the gaster to the post-petiole, which facilitates their "acrobatic" movement. C. auberti is a common species within the Mediterranean basin, with its range extending from the Iberian Peninsula through Southern France and Italy, and across to Northern Africa.

Taxonomically, they are distinguished from other acrobat ants by their specific coloration and the presence of fine hairs on their bodies. Their distribution is closely tied to the warm, dry climates of the Mediterranean, where they have evolved to handle high temperatures and periods of seasonal drought. Their resilience in these conditions makes them a very forgiving species for the beginning and intermediate ant keeper.

Physical Characteristics

Crematogaster auberti is a monomorphic species, with workers typically measuring between 3mm and 4.5mm in length. While they lack a specialized major caste, their coordination more than makes up for their uniform size. Their coloration is usually a dark brown to black, with a gaster that is distinctly heart-shaped and often appears shiny or polished. Their legs are relatively long, allowing them to run with a quick, jerky motion that is characteristic of the genus.

The queen is significantly larger than the workers, typically reaching 7-9mm in length. She is a robust, dark ant with a thick thorax and a heart-shaped gaster similar to the workers but much larger. She is the central figure of the colony, capable of producing thousands of eggs and founding a colony that can remain active for many years. Like the workers, she is sensitive to vibrations but is otherwise a very hardy and productive queen.

Colony Behavior and Social Structure

Colonies of Crematogaster auberti are typically monogynous (one queen) and can grow to include several thousand workers. They are highly social and maintain a high level of activity within the nest and outworld. One of the most interesting aspects of their behavior is their defensive coordination. If the nest is disturbed, workers will swarm out, raising their abdomens and releasing a pungent chemical that alerts the rest of the colony and deters predators.

They are also famous for their organized foraging trails. When a scout finds food, she recruits her sisters with incredible speed, creating a busy "highway" of ants between the food source and the nest. In the nest, they are very attentive to the brood, constantly grooming and moving the larvae and pupae to ensure they are in the best environmental conditions. They are also known for their cleanliness, often placing their waste in a specific area as far from the nest as possible.

Diet and Foraging

Crematogaster auberti is a generalist omnivore with a strong preference for sugary foods. In the wild, they are frequently found tending aphids for honeydew or visiting flowers for nectar. In a formicarium, they require a constant supply of carbohydrates. Sugar water, honey water, or specialized ant nectars are all eagerly accepted. They are "liquid lovers" and will quickly fill their social stomachs to bring food back to the nest.

Protein is equally vital for the health of the queen and the growth of the larvae. They are opportunistic hunters and scavengers, readily accepting a variety of feeder insects like fruit flies, small crickets, and mealworms. Because they are fast and coordinated, they can quickly overwhelm prey items much larger than an individual worker. A balanced diet of both sugars and proteins is essential for the rapid growth of the colony.

Life Cycle and Reproduction

The development time for Crematogaster auberti is relatively fast, typically taking 5 to 7 weeks from egg to adult worker at temperatures of 24-26°C. Like other Myrmicine ants, they do not spin cocoons; the pupae are "naked" and change from white to a dark brown as they mature. This allows keepers to watch the fascinating transformation of the ant's body during the final stages of development.

Nuptial flights occur during the warm, humid months of summer, often in July or August following a rain. Large numbers of winged alates will swarm at dusk. After mating, the queen searches for a suitable nesting site—usually under a stone or in a small soil cavity—to begin her independent colony founding (claustral founding). She is a very resilient founder and, once the first workers emerge, the colony will grow steadily.

Environmental Requirements

Crematogaster auberti thrives in warm, relatively dry conditions, mimicking their Mediterranean home. A nest temperature of 22-26°C (72-79°F) is ideal. While they are more tolerant of lower humidity than tropical species, they still require a moisture gradient in the nest (ideally 40-60%) to ensure the brood does not dry out. A constant supply of fresh drinking water in the outworld is a must.

Like most Mediterranean species, they benefit from a period of diapause (hibernation) during the winter months, typically from November to March. During this time, they should be kept at a cooler temperature (10-15°C) to allow the queen to rest and the colony to reset for the next growing season. This hibernation is key to the long-term longevity and productivity of the colony.

Keeping Crematogaster auberti as Pets

Keeping Crematogaster auberti is a high-energy and rewarding experience. They are never still, and there is always something happening in the outworld. Their unique "acrobatic" displays and heart-shaped gasters make them a constant source of fascination. They are a great choice for keepers who want a species that is easy to care for but still offers complex social behaviors and a unique appearance. Their ability to thrive in a variety of setups makes them a versatile and reliable choice for any ant enthusiast.

Recommended Habitats

To best accommodate the active and climbing nature of Crematogaster auberti, we recommend the following ANT SHACK products:

• All-in-One Desktop Ant Habitat - This is the perfect starter home for a Crematogaster auberti colony. The secure design prevents escapes, and the integrated outworld makes feeding and observing their "acrobatic" behavior easy and convenient.
• Ant Habitat “Paris“ - For a larger colony, the "Paris" habitat offers plenty of room for their extensive foraging trails. The clear acrylic allows for great observation of their unique defensive postures and social interactions.
• Natural Ant Habitat Kit - Large - This kit allows you to create a naturalistic Mediterranean environment with stones and soil, encouraging the ants to display their natural nesting and tunneling behaviors in a realistic setting.