Aphaenogaster senilis is a long-legged black ant from southern Europe. It is omnivorous, collecting dead insects and a few seeds. Its founding is semi-claustral: the queen must be fed.
Calculate exact amounts for your colony →Based on worker count, brood and temperature. Free, no account.Guidelines for a colony with a moderate amount of brood, at 22–28 °C (72–82 °F):
| WORKERS | PROTEIN | SUGAR / 3–4 DAYS | SEEDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (Nanitics) | 1 prey item every 5 days | 1 drop | 0.1 g / week |
| 50 (Small) | 5 prey items every 4 days | 2 drops | 0.1 g / week |
| 150 (Growing) | 14 prey items every 3 days | 5 drops | 0.3 g / week |
| 400 (Established) | 34 prey items every 3 days | 13 drops | 0.7 g / week |
1 prey item = one insect the size of a fruit fly (2–3 mm). A medium cricket (1 cm) is worth about 50 prey items. 1 drop ≈ 0.05 mL. Seeds: 1 g ≈ 170 millet seeds ≈ 750 chia seeds; 1 teaspoon ≈ 4 g.
These are starting points. If food is left after 24 h, give less; if everything disappears fast and the brood grows, give more. The calculator also adjusts for brood and temperature.
Light hibernation from December to February, around 10–12 °C.
Yes: one small prey and one drop of sugar a week during founding.
A little, as a supplement to insects.
Protein every 3–5 days, sugar and seeds always available.