Polyrhachis craddocki

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Southeast Asia, found in Myanmar and Brunei (Temburong District), with records from Malaysia and Indonesia. In Brunei, specimens were collected from a colony trail on a tree trunk at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre ^[1].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Only a single wild colony has been observed, and colony size in the wild is unknown.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unconfirmed, no queen specimens have been documented in the scientific literature ^[1].
  • Worker: 7.0-8.16 mm total length depending on population ^[1].
  • Colony: Unknown, only a single wild colony has been observed ^[1].
  • Growth: Unknown, no captive breeding data exists.
  • Development: Unconfirmed, development has not been studied in captivity or directly observed. (No data available on egg-to-worker development time. Related Polyrhachis species typically take 6-10 weeks at tropical temperatures, but this is an estimate only.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Based on its tropical distribution, keep warm at 24-28°C ^[1]. Room temperature (24-26°C) should be suitable. Avoid temperatures below 20°C.
  • Humidity: Based on collection from humid Brunei, keep nest substrate moderately moist but not waterlogged ^[1].
  • Diapause: Unlikely, as a tropical species from Southeast Asia, diapause is probably not required.
  • Nesting: This is an arboreal species collected from tree trunks. In captivity, provide vertical surfaces for climbing ^[1].
• Behavior: Workers are medium-sized and relatively slow-moving. They are not aggressive but, as Formicinae, can spray formic acid when threatened. They are arboreal and prefer traveling along vertical surfaces. Escape prevention is moderate due to their 7-8 mm size.
• Common Issues: very limited distribution in the wild means captive colonies are extremely rare, you may not find this species for sale, no established captive breeding protocols exist since this species has rarely been kept in captivity, arboreal nature requires specific setups with climbing structures that differ from ground-nesting ant setups, lack of published care information means you are essentially pioneering captive husbandry, wild-caught colonies may be stressed from collection and difficult to establish

Housing and Nest Setup

Polyrhachis craddocki is an arboreal species, meaning it naturally lives on tree trunks. In captivity, provide a setup with vertical surfaces like cork bark or branches. Use Y-tong or plaster nests with roughened interiors for grip. Include multiple chambers at different heights. The outworld should have climbing structures like twigs or artificial plants ^[3].

Feeding and Diet

These ants are omnivorous. Offer sugar water or honey constantly for energy, and provide protein sources like small insects 2-3 times per week. Fresh water should always be available ^[3].

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a tropical species from Southeast Asia, keep the nest area at 24-28°C ^[1]. Room temperature in most homes should be suitable. Avoid temperatures below 20°C. There is no documented need for hibernation.

Behavior and Observation

Workers are calm and non-aggressive. They are arboreal and travel along vertical surfaces. The spines on the mesonotum and petiole are distinctive ^[1]. As Formicinae, they can spray formic acid but are generally docile.

Acquisition and Rarity

This species is extremely rare in the antkeeping hobby. It is known only from two locations worldwide ^[1][2]. If you obtain a colony, document your observations as captive breeding is unexplored.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References