Bug FAQMediterranean Acrobat Ant
Crematogaster scutellaris · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Queens can grow to about 8 mm while workers are usually under 5 mm. They build nests in dead wood such as stumps, fallen logs or dead branches and forage for sugary liquids, arthropod remains and live aphids. Winged males and queens appear from late summer through October, with workers emerging earlier in mid-summer.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The head is reddish while the thorax and abdomen are black. The abdomen tapers gradually toward the tip.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Queens can reach about 8 mm in length; workers rarely exceed 5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Colonies are usually built in stumps, fallen logs or other dead wood.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Workers collect sugary liquids and solid food such as arthropod remains.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Spawning typically occurs during the summer months. Larvae hatch mainly in September and overwinter as second-stage larvae from November to February at around 10 °C.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Winged males and queens can be seen from late summer up to the end of October if it stays warm. Workers appear by mid- to late summer, while sexual individuals show up in late August.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How big are Mediterranean acrobat ants?
Queens grow to about 8 mm, while workers are usually under 5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where do they build their nests?
They nest in dead wood such as stumps, fallen logs or dead branches.
Source: Wikipedia
What do they eat?
They gather sugary liquids, arthropod remains and also bring live aphids into oak-gall nests.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see winged ants?
Winged males and queens appear from late summer through October, especially if it stays warm.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crematogaster_scutellaris
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.