Polyrhachis lepida

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore), found in rainforest edges from lowlands to higher altitudes ^[2]
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been specifically documented. Based on typical Polyrhachis patterns, likely single-queen colonies.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: 6.80-7.61 mm ^[1]
  • Worker: 5.64-6.00 mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no published colony size data exists
  • Growth: Unknown, no development timing data available
  • Development: Unconfirmed, no direct data. Based on typical Polyrhachis patterns, expect 6-10 weeks at warm temperatures (Development timeline has not been studied for this species)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep warm and stable, roughly 24-28°C, as these are tropical rainforest ants. Room temperature around 24-26°C is suitable.
  • Humidity: Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged, as they are arboreal nesters.
  • Diapause: No, these are tropical ants from Borneo and do not require hibernation. Keep them warm year-round.
  • Nesting: Provide a naturalistic setup with climbing structures like branches or cork bark. A Y-tong nest or other suitable nest with a connected outworld works well ^[2].
• Behavior: Polyrhachis lepida is generally calm and not aggressive toward keepers. Workers are active foragers that climb well. They lack a functional sting and instead spray formic acid when biting, as typical for Formicinae ants. Escape prevention is important due to their climbing ability.
• Common Issues: temperatures below 22°C may slow activity and affect brood development, escape prevention is critical, they can climb and squeeze through small gaps, no specific colony data means keepers must observe and adjust care based on colony response, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites or diseases that can cause colony failure

Nest Preferences and Housing

In the wild, Polyrhachis lepida typically builds nests between leaves in the lower arboreal zone, using larval silk to weave leaf edges together ^[2]. One nest was found in a hollow bamboo stem on the ground, showing flexibility ^[2]. For captive care, provide vertical climbing space with branches or cork bark. A Y-tong nest or other suitable nest with a connected outworld works well. Keep the nest chamber relatively small and enclosed for founding queens.

Feeding and Diet

Polyrhachis lepida is an omnivore. In captivity, offer a constant sugar source like honey water and protein sources such as fruit flies or small crickets 2-3 times per week. Remove uneaten prey after 24-48 hours to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a tropical species from Borneo, Polyrhachis lepida requires warm conditions year-round. Keep the nest at 24-28°C, with a slight gradient if possible. No hibernation is needed, maintain consistent warmth to avoid stressing the colony.

Behavior and Colony Dynamics

Polyrhachis lepida is relatively calm and not aggressive. Workers are active foragers that climb well. They defend by spraying formic acid, as typical for Formicinae ants. Queens are robust, and colonies are likely single-queen based on genus patterns. Escape prevention is important due to their climbing ability. ^[1][2]

Frequently Asked Questions

Report an Issue

The current care sheet is based fully on literature. See inconsistencies, or something that's incorrect? Please report here, it will be resolved after review from an admin. Contributing to the blogs tab also helps providing information, to make us be able to further improve the caresheets. Thank you for your support!

References