Oecophylla — weaver ants

About the genus

Oecophylla are tree ants of tropical Asia, Australia and Africa. Workers hold leaf edges together while others pass silk-spinning larvae between them to build the nest. Colonies are huge and fiercely territorial, and in Asia weaver ants have been used for centuries to protect orchards from pests.

Care

• Temperature: 24–28 °C all year, no hibernation.
• Humidity: high in the nest, a drier arena.
• Food: sugars (diluted honey, sugar syrup) at all times and small insects 2–3 times a week; remove leftovers within a day.
• Farm: a large humid terrarium with plants; very demanding to keep.