southeastern and central Europe into Anatolia and the Caucasus
Fine-art photographic collection
Prenolepis nitens
An ant that works through winter cold and spends summer underground with swollen living food stores.
About this species
European False Honeypot Ant
Prenolepis nitensMayr, 1853
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Prenolepis nitens is a cold-active ant of southeastern Europe and western Asia. Colonies forage during cool parts of the year, then retreat into summer aestivation while young workers store liquid food in greatly expanded gasters.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Prenolepis
Accepted taxon. · checked 2026-07-15
southeastern and central Europe into Anatolia and the CaucasusBroad range and selected reference localities — not a complete occurrence map.
Open woodland, grassland, scrub and warm slopes with cool-season foraging opportunities.
Most conspicuous in winter and early spring; colonies reduce surface activity during summer heat.
Sugary liquids and scavenged foods stored by replete workers.
Social; colonies produce specialised replete workers during the active season.
What makes this species remarkable?
Workers may forage close to freezing, exploiting cool winter conditions when most competing ants are sealed inside their nests.
Young workers can expand into repletes with balloon-like gasters, and one study found repletes formed around 78 percent of workers during aestivation.
Its annual rhythm is almost reversed: the colony feeds in winter and spring, then survives the hottest months underground on stored liquid reserves.