Polyrhachis armata

Lat. Name:

Polyrhachis armata

Trivial Name:

-

Taxonomy:

Subfamily: Formicinae Tribus: Camponotini

Posture Class:

(2) due to their origin and way of life, they have higher demands on good escape protection as well as temperature and air humidity

Dissemination:

Southeast Asia

Habitat:

tropical rainforests

Colony form:

polygyn

Queen:

Size: approx. 12-16mm Color: black

Worker:

Size: approx. 8-12mm Color: black

Soldiers:

Not available

Male:

Size: color: black

Food:

Honey water, insects (e.g. flies, mosquitoes, crickets in all sizes, grasshoppers)

Humidity:

Arena: 50 - 70% Nest area: 50 - 70% 

Temperature:

Arena: Daytime: 28 - 30°C Nighttime: 24 - 28°C Nest area: 28- 30°C  

Hibernation:

no

Nest shape:

Large webs of nests on rock walls, tree trunks or in bushes, in which they weave in grass and moss and soil

Formicarium species:

Arena at least 30 cm high, starter set for weaver ants, willow balls as nest

Formicarium size:

Size: L - XL

Substrate:

Farm: - Arena: sand-loam, humus

Planting:

tropical rainforest

Decoration:

Branches, leaf litter, stones, cork

Description:

They often live near the ground, like to build their nests on stones or on tree bark. They use their larvae to spin the nest, but scientifically they do not belong to the "true weaver ants" like the genus Oecophylla, although these have almost the same weaving technique. 

They have a great need for food and exercise. The formicaria should therefore also be expandable.  Due to their colony size they are quite agile and escape specialists. Therefore, pay attention to a good escape protection! 

Development:

Swarm flight: -

Foundation: claustral( without supplementary feeding),

Colony size: several thousand

Offers quantity:

a mated queen and workers (see selection); brood (varies according to season and development)

Web links:

- Forum

- Source reference