Stats

Lifespan: 1-7 yrs
Size: Tiny
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Social: Colony
Biome: Temperate grassland
Range: Europe
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Venom
Status: Uncommon

About

A small dark brown ant introduced from Europe, now ubiquitous in cities across North America where it nests under sidewalks and driveways. Neighbouring colonies stage massive sidewalk wars in spring, leaving piles of casualties along pavement cracks.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Tetramorium
Species: Tetramorium immigrans