Black weaver ant (Polyrhachis dives)

Short answers

Black weaver ant: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A tank from 40×30×30 cm with planting.

Black weaver ant: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night no drop needed.

Black weaver ant: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Black weaver ant: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: queen 10–15 years.

Black weaver ant: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

no drop needed

Humidity

70–80 % throughout

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

a tank from 40×30×30 cm with planting

Substrate

A planted terrarium — they build in the open, with no classic nest

Feeding

Food

Sugar water plus insects

Feeding interval

sugar always available, insects 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

worker 5–7 mm, queen 9–11 mm

Life expectancy

queen 10–15 years

Origin

South-East Asia

Protection status

—

Brumation

No — active all year round

Cohabitation

Keep as a colony, not a single animal, highly polygynous — these ants naturally live in large, often multi-queen groups and so grow especially fast. Two unrelated colonies are still never merged.

Notes

It builds silk nests from larval silk between leaves — that calls for a planted enclosure rather than an aerated-concrete nest, and it is the real reason to keep them. High humidity is essential.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Black weaver ant (Polyrhachis dives) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Asian carpenter ant (Camponotus nicobarensis) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex octospinosus) – Experts
• Nylander's acorn ant (Temnothorax nylanderi) – Beginner
• European fire ant (Manica rubida) – Intermediate
• Brown-black carpenter ant (Camponotus ligniperda) – Intermediate
• Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) – Beginner
• Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) – Beginner
• Silky field ant (Formica fusca) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Black weaver ant (Polyrhachis dives) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a tank from 40×30×30 cm with planting), substrate (A planted terrarium — they build in the open, with no classic nest), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.