Polyrhachis arachne

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Indonesia (Java) and Thailand in broad-leaved bamboo habitats, nesting in dead internodes and building silk pavilions under leaves ^[1][3][2].
• Colony Type: Monogyne (single queen) and polydomous, with colonies spread across multiple bamboo internodes and leaf pavilions ^[4][2].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, inferred from Polyrhachis genus (~8-9 mm)
  • Worker: 5-7 mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Up to 1088 workers ^[2]
  • Growth: Moderate
  • Development: 6-8 weeks (estimated based on related tropical Formicinae species) ^[5] (Development time is estimated, no specific study exists for this species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep warm, roughly 24-28°C, based on tropical habitat ^[1].
  • Humidity: Keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged, as bamboo habitats are humid ^[2][1].
  • Diapause: No, tropical species do not require hibernation ^[1].
  • Nesting: Arboreal nests with vertical chambers, using Y-tong, plaster, or bamboo sections. Provide silk surfaces for pavilion building ^[5][2].
• Behavior: Workers are calm and non-aggressive, using short-term trails for foraging. They tend hemipterans for honeydew and collect dead insects. Escape risk is moderate due to climbing ability ^[6][7].
• Common Issues: humidity control is critical, too dry and colonies stagnate, too wet and mold becomes a problem., they need vertical nesting spaces scaled to their arboreal lifestyle., polydomous colonies may spread across multiple chambers, making it hard to track the queen., wild-caught colonies may have parasites or be stressed from bamboo collection., their need for hemipteran partners means they may not thrive on sugar alone, protein is important.

Housing and Nest Setup

You should provide arboreal-style housing that mimics bamboo internodes. Use Y-tong, plaster, or bamboo sections with vertical chambers. Cork or cardboard tubes give surfaces for walking and humidity absorption. Because colonies are polydomous, connect multiple nest units with tubing. Outworlds should include vertical structures like branches for climbing. Position a water tube so condensation reaches the nest chambers ^[5][2].

Feeding and Diet

You should offer sugar water or honey water constantly, and feed dead insects like fruit flies or mealworms 2-3 times weekly. In the wild, they tend hemipterans for honeydew, so protein is important ^[6][2].

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep the nest area warm at roughly 24-28°C with minimal fluctuations. A heating cable on one side can create a gradient. High humidity complements warmth, mist the outworld occasionally and keep water tubes filled, but ensure ventilation to prevent mold ^[1].

Colony Structure and Polydomy

Colonies are polydomous, meaning they spread across multiple nest sites. This is normal behavior, not a sign of swarming. When setting up connected nests, ensure passages are wide enough for workers, and brood may concentrate in warm, humid chambers ^[2][6].

Behavior and Foraging

Workers use short-term trails to food sources and are competent climbers. They are generally calm and may flee rather than attack. Escape prevention is important due to their climbing ability. Activity is higher during warmer hours ^[6][7].

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