Excavator: Ground. The species will nest in bare ground in loess or clay soils. The species will nest in aggregations numbering over 100 nests. It is a eusocial species, and the gynes can live for up to 5-6 years. In the first year, the gynes raise a few workers (2-6). These long-lived workers then assist the gyne in enlarging the nest and in pollen foraging. The second season will raise further workers (up to18). In the third year the colony can be increased in size to produce between up to 54 workers, in year 4 up to 162 workers, and in the fifth year to as many as 486. In the sixth year after establisment, colony sizes can increase 1458 (various refs. cited in Westrich, 1989).