Colobopsis Leonardi–Gatekeeper Ant - Intermediate
 
Gatekeepers are globally famous for their special evolutionary quirk. By having flat heads and using thin tunnels they can use their reinforced heads to block their nests up and prevent invaders making headway.
 
Similar but less pronounced than famous turtle headed ants, they adopt a similar tactic in nest protection. While smaller workers can easily go about their day in the hollowed nests or decaying (easy to chew) trees.
 
They can reach a few thousand strong, especially when nesting over a few satellite nests.
They typically farm aphids and hunt small insects. Moving more in the dim light of day rather than pure daylight. Colobopsis Leonardi will also have both majors and soldiers present within established colonies. The soldiers have a striking golden thorax with a contrasting dark head.
 
It is reccomended that you feed your colony 3/4 times a week as in our experience they are incredibly hungry ants. If given the correct conditions they are a very active and fun to observe species ,even when the colony is still young.
 
This species is best suited to wood nests but great results in artificial nests are seen too. 
 
Colony Size
Few thousand workers
Queen Age
unknown years 
Semi Claustral ( Feeding during founding is required)
Monogyne (1 queen per colony)
Temperature
Nest 26 to 28 degrees
Hibernation
No
Polymorphic (Different size casts)
Yes- with minor, media, major and soldier workers
Sting/Spray/Acid
Yes – They have acid
Bite
Yes
Diet
Small insects, sugars
Nest Type
Natural – wood - 3d - Glass - Acrylic
Size
Queen – 12-13mm
Worker – 4-8mm
Major - unknown 
Soldier- unkown