Liometopum Microcephalum (part 1) - capture and cut into pieces a female Bibio Marci. Team Work.

Nature - Wild Life - Insect life. The entire process lasted approximately 45 minutes. There is a Cetonia Aurata dead, that one single ant carry it. I must mention that I didnt killed on Cetonia Aurata and I didnt offered on Bibio Marci to the ants. They alone catch it, I just found the scene and started to film it. Basic Classification Scientific Name: Liometopum microcephalum (Panzer, 1798) Family: Formicidae Subfamily: Dolichoderinae Genus: Liometopum Habitat & Distribution Found mainly in Europe, especially in the Carpathian Basin, including Romania, Austria, Greece, and surrounding regions. Prefers oak forests, olive plantations, and stream valleys with plane trees. Colony & Behavior Monogynous: One queen per colony. Colonies can grow explosively, reaching up to 10,000 workers in mature nests. Workers are highly territorial, forming dense pheromone trails that resemble busy highways. Known for their formic acid, which has a distinct lemon scent—a quirky chemical signature! Appearance Queen: 12–13 mm, brownish-black. Workers: 4–6 mm, red thorax with a shimmering silver abdomen. Two distinct worker castes are present Diet & Reproduction Feeds on honey and insects. First generation: 30–50 workers. With warmth and food, colonies can exceed 100 workers in the first year. Hibernation From November to March, they hibernate at 5–8°C, slowing down colony activity Ecological Role Considered ecologically important, often ranking high in ant community hierarchies. Rare and not well studied, partly due to their scattered distribution and difficult nest access Nesting Habits Nest Location: These ants build carton nests inside the trunks of old trees, especially oak trees. About 94% of their nests are found in oaks. Nest Structure: The nests are made from chewed plant material mixed with ant secretions, forming a papery structure similar to that of some wasps. Colony Size: Colonies can be very large, with thousands of workers. They are highly territorial and defend their nest tree aggressively Behavior & Social Dynamics Territoriality: Workers are extremely defensive, especially near the nest and along foraging trails. They engage in ritualized posturing and sometimes combat with rival ant species like Formica rufa and Lasius fuliginosus. Foraging: They forage both on trees and on the ground near their nest tree. Their trails are often dense and well-defined, making them easier to spot. Chemical Defense: They use formic acid in defense, which has a lemony scent—a unique trait among ants. How to Observe Them Best Time: Late spring to early autumn, especially May to September, when colonies are active. Where to Look: Search in oak forests, especially in floodplain areas or old parks with mature trees. South Moravia and parts of Romania are known habitats. Signs to Spot: Look for ant highways—dense trails of workers moving up and down tree trunks. Lemon scent near the nest may indicate their presence. Carton nest material may be visible in tree cavities or bark crevices. Are They All Female? Yes—most ants in a colony are female. This includes: Workers: sterile females who forage, defend, and care for the nest. Queen: the reproductive female who lays eggs. Male ants (called drones) exist only for mating. They’re short-lived and die soon after fulfilling their purpose. Do They Reproduce by Cloning? Not exactly. Liometopum microcephalum does not reproduce by cloning in the strict scientific sense like some ants (e.g., Cataglyphis or Ooceraea biroi). Here's what we know: They reproduce sexually, with a queen mating with males during a nuptial flight. After mating, the queen stores sperm and uses it to fertilize eggs over her lifetime. Workers are genetically diverse, not clones, because they come from fertilized eggs. There’s no confirmed evidence that Liometopum microcephalum uses parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction) or cloning to produce workers or queens So while some ant species do reproduce clonally, Liometopum microcephalum follows the more typical ant reproductive strategy—sexual reproduction with a single queen and genetically varied offspring. Thank you very much for watching my videos! #InsectWorld #MacroPhotography #WildLife #NatureCloseUp #RigelAntares #Ants