Small to medium workers with the characteristic heart-shaped gaster of the genus.
Fine-art photographic collection
Crematogaster castanea
A tropical Asian acrobat ant defending its arboreal routes with chemical weapons.
About this species
Chestnut acrobat ant
Crematogaster castaneaSmith, 1858
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Crematogaster castanea is a Southeast Asian acrobat ant. Workers forage across vegetation for honeydew and animal food and use the flexible gaster to direct defensive secretions.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Myrmicinae · Crematogastrini · Crematogaster
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
Southeast AsiaBroad documented localities — not a complete range map.
Southeast Asia.
Tropical forest, secondary woodland, plantations and wooded gardens.
Arboreal and ground foraging, with strong recruitment to rich food sources.
Honeydew, plant exudates, carrion and small arthropods.
Colonies occupy cavities in wood or other protected sites and may use several nest spaces.
What makes this species remarkable?
Workers can curve the abdomen over the body when threatened.
Chemical recruitment allows rapid concentration of workers at food or danger.
The species is part of a highly diverse tropical Asian Crematogaster fauna.
Sources and scientific references
More photographs
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