Crematogaster scutellaris

Mediterranean acrobat ant

When threatened, workers flip their heart-shaped abdomen up over their head like a scorpion's tail to dab attackers with irritating secretions.

Where	Mediterranean woodland and stone walls
Size	3 to 10 mm long
When	March to October

This ant ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown, with a darker head and thorax than its paler, heart-shaped gaster, which workers can raise upright over the body; workers run 3 to 6 mm long, and queens 7 to 10 mm.

Colonies nest in dead wood, bark crevices, and stone walls across Mediterranean woodland and towns, defending themselves with a mild sting and sprayed secretions rather than aggressive biting.

Traits

Habitat

Woodland

Colour

Brown

Active

Day

To people

Mild

Workers can deliver a mild, painful sting in defence, though the species is not aggressive toward people.

Activity through the year

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Often confused with

Black garden antnot in guide

Lasius niger

The black garden ant is similarly dark but has a rounded gaster it cannot flip up over its head, and it lacks a functional sting, unlike the Mediterranean acrobat ant.