Tetraponera nigra

Species at a glance

• Origin: South and Southeast Asia: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and China
• Difficulty: high, for experienced keepers only

Care conditions

• Temperature: 24–28 °C all year round
• Humidity: 50–70%, never waterlogged
• Food: sugars (diluted honey, sugar syrup) at all times and small insects 2–3 times a week; remove leftovers within a day

Hibernation

Not needed: a tropical species that stays active all year. Avoid long spells below 20 °C.

Farm and colony growth

Workers are skilled escapers: use a tight lid, fine mesh on the vents and an anti-escape barrier on the arena walls.

Safety

Workers sting, and the sting is painful. Do not handle the ants, use long forceps, and if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, choose another species.

Please note

This species is rare in the hobby and there is little verified care data. The conditions are based on the climate of its range and on related species; check them with the seller and watch how the colony develops.