Polyrhachis ithona

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Tropical Australasian region, found in the Moluccas, New Guinea, and Solomon Islands in humid, forested areas ^[1][2][3]
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Based on typical Polyrhachis patterns, likely single-queen (monogyne) colonies ^[6]
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Approximately 8.5 mm ^[1]
  • Worker: Size data unavailable ^[6]
  • Colony: Up to several hundred workers, estimated from related species ^[6]
  • Growth: Moderate, inferred from tropical Polyrhachis patterns ^[6]
  • Development: Estimated 6-8 weeks at warm temperatures ^[6] (Development time is inferred from genus-level data since species-specific timing is unconfirmed.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C. Inferred from tropical species patterns ^[6]
  • Humidity: Keep substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Inferred from forest-dwelling habits ^[6]
  • Diapause: No, tropical species does not require hibernation ^[6]
  • Nesting: In nature, they nest in rotting wood or under bark. In captivity, use Y-tong or plaster nests with damp substrate ^[6]
• Behavior: Polyrhachis ithona is generally calm and not aggressive. They defend by spraying formic acid, as they lack a sting. Escape risk is moderate due to their size, standard barriers work well ^[6]
• Common Issues: tropical species needs constant warmth, cold temperatures can slow brood development, high humidity is essential, dry conditions cause colony decline, colonies may struggle if substrate dries out between waterings, limited availability in the antkeeping hobby means established colonies are uncommon, specific colony structure and founding behavior remain unstudied, some care aspects are based on genus patterns

Housing and Nest Setup

Polyrhachis ithona does well in a Y-tong (AAC) nest or a plaster formicarium. These ants need damp conditions, so choose a nest that holds moisture well. A test tube setup can work for founding colonies, but monitor humidity closely. The nest should have chambers sized appropriately for their colony size. Since they come from humid tropical forests, avoid dry setups or excessive ventilation that strips moisture from the nest ^[6]

Feeding and Diet

Polyrhachis ithona is an omnivore that accepts both sugar sources and protein. Offer sugar water, honey, or diluted syrup as a constant energy source. For protein, provide small insects like fruit flies, small crickets, or mealworms. Place food where they can easily find it. Feed protein 2-3 times per week depending on colony size, and keep sugar water available at all times. Remove uneaten food after 24-48 hours to prevent mold ^[6]

Temperature and Humidity

This is a tropical species that needs warmth. Keep the nest area at 24-28°C year-round. A heating cable placed on top of the nest can maintain stable temperatures. Humidity should stay high, the substrate should feel consistently damp but not have standing water. Check moisture levels regularly, especially in dry room conditions. Unlike temperate ants, these do not need a winter cooling period ^[6]

Behavior and Colony Care

Polyrhachis ithona is a relatively calm species. The spines on their thorax and petiole serve as defense, and they spray formic acid when threatened. Workers are active foragers that will search out food across the outworld. Colonies grow moderately, expect several months from founding to first workers, then steady growth if conditions are good. These ants do not require special lighting, but they do appreciate stable, warm, humid conditions. Escape prevention is standard, they are not particularly small or agile ^[6]

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