# Mediterranean Acrobat Ant

*Crematogaster scutellaris*

When threatened, they arch their heart-shaped abdomens over their heads like tiny scorpions to release a noxious chemical defense.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hymenoptera › Formicidae › Crematogaster
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Mediterranean pine and oak forests, olive groves, orchards, and dead wood.
- **Diet:** Honeydew from aphids, nectar, and small dead insects.
- **Range:** Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Mediterranean Basin
- **Size:** Workers: 3-5 mm, Queens: 7-9 mm
- **Lifespan:** Workers live 1-2 years; queens can live up to 15 years.
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Pesticide application in agriculture and the removal of dead wood and old trees which they rely on for nesting.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans. They are defensive only if their nest in dead wood is disturbed, reacting by biting and spraying formic acid. Maintain a safe distance of 1 meter from active trails. If bitten or sprayed, wash the area with soap and water; the mild irritation will pass quickly.

## About

Crematogaster scutellaris is a species of ant belonging to the family Formicidae, subfamily Myrmicinae.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/4ea544c4-ac0b-4560-8ecc-464c30ac6218
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/342899
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crematogaster scutellaris
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/440536428/medium.jpeg (Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.