Acrobat ant (Crematogaster scutellaris)

Description:

Typical Mediterranean ant with red head and black abdomen. Usually thorax is black, but in this case it is red as the head. The petiole is fixed on top of the abdomen, thus the abdomen can be raised and, when in danger, the ant can eject acetic acid as a repellant and as an alert for other ants of the colony. Fan etymology fact: Crematogaster, composed from latin crematus + greek gaster means burning stomach (with reference to the secreted acid) but many specialists believe this is a typo error and the name was intended to be Cremastogaster, from greek cremasto=suspended + greek gaster, meaning suspended stomach with reference to the special attachement of the abdomen and the possibility to raise it. Both names are well suited for this ant :)