Aenictus siamensis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Highland seasonal forests in Thailand at 700-900 meters elevation, specifically hill evergreen forest and dry evergreen forest, as well as open areas ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unknown, only the worker caste has been documented ^[2].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, queens have not been described ^[2].
  • Worker: 3.75-3.90 mm total length ^[1].
  • Colony: Unknown for this species.
  • Growth: Unknown.
  • Development: Unknown. (Development timing is unstudied for this species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep around 22-24°C. Their highland habitat at 700-900 meters elevation suggests they prefer cooler tropical conditions rather than lowland heat ^[1].
  • Humidity: High humidity required, their hill evergreen forest home indicates damp conditions. Keep substrate moist but not waterlogged ^[1].
  • Diapause: Probably not required, they live in tropical Thailand, though their seasonal forest habitat suggests they may slow down during the dry season ^[1].
  • Nesting: No fixed nest in nature. They form temporary bivouacs using their own bodies and roam constantly in search of prey ^[2]. Standard formicaria are completely unsuitable.
• Behavior: Nomadic and highly aggressive. They are specialist predators that hunt other ants and social insects. Their small size creates serious escape risks, they can slip through the smallest gaps ^[1].
• Common Issues: impossible to feed adequately, army ants require massive amounts of live prey daily., require enormous enclosures, standard test tubes and formicaria are completely unsuitable., no queens available, only workers have been described by scientists., tiny size means they escape through the smallest gaps.

Why Standard Antkeeping Fails

Aenictus siamensis belongs to the subfamily Dorylinae, the Old World army ants. These ants function completely differently from typical ants that live in permanent nests. They have no permanent nest. Instead, they form temporary living structures called bivouacs using their own bodies. The colony roams constantly through the forest in search of prey, carrying their brood and food with them. This nomadic lifestyle makes them impossible to house in standard test tubes or acrylic nests. Scientists have never found queens of this species, only workers have been collected ^[2]. Without a queen, you cannot establish a colony through normal founding methods.

Housing Requirements

Do not attempt to keep these ants in test tubes or small formicaria. Army ants require massive naturalistic enclosures, essentially room-sized setups or very large terrariums, to accommodate their nomadic behavior and bivouac formation. They need substrate for bivouac construction and extensive foraging space. Standard antkeeping equipment is completely unsuitable and will result in the death of the colony. ^[2]

Feeding Challenges

These are specialist predators that hunt other ants and social insects. They require large quantities of live prey daily to sustain the colony. Feeding them fruit flies or sugar water will not work. They need access to other ant colonies or termite colonies to raid. This dietary requirement makes them effectively impossible to maintain in captivity for any antkeeper without extensive resources and a constant supply of prey colonies. ^[2]

Temperature and Humidity

Keep these ants around 22-24°C. They come from highland forests at 700-900 meters elevation in Thailand, which suggests they prefer cooler conditions than lowland tropical ants ^[1]. Maintain high humidity levels consistent with their hill evergreen forest habitat, keep the substrate damp but not waterlogged ^[1]. Provide good ventilation while maintaining humidity to prevent mold growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References