Aenictus – small Asian (and not only) nomadic ants. All individuals are monomorphic, reaching a maximum length of 4 mm. Aenictus lack the main “feature” of nomadic ants – large soldiers with powerful mandibles.
Families reproduce by divisions. With sufficient nutrition, males and wingless females are formed (few, literally 1-2 individuals), which go in another direction and take some of the workers with them. Since they do not have nests, both the old female and the young one wander in search of food (mostly ants of other species) together with their retinue.
During their wanderings, a column of these vagabonds may find a male, who is immediately caught and delivered to a young female. He fertilizes her in a temporary shelter where the ants have stopped for a rest. If for some reason there is no luck with males, the colony eventually dies.
Leave a comment