Characteristics of Oecophylla smaragdina
Oecophylla smaragdina – also known as the Asian weaver ant – is a tropical ant species from the rainforest. It is a very special and spectacular species. Workers use material produced by their own larvae to build their nests, in nature they do this at canopy level. They can use a variety of soil material, wood or even leaves, to help them in their work. The workers can cling to each other, so they can cover long distances. In many photos they can be seen in bridge formation.
Their “honeymoon flight” generally take place during the rainy season. Their habitat is constantly warm, so they have virtually all year round, but the rainy season provides more food and wind. It is not a native species in Hungary and cannot be captured from the wild in our country.
O.smaragdina is a very fast-growing species, with a single adult queen reaching numbers of up to 10.000+ workers. In nature, 100,000+ workers are not uncommon in a colony. It is a monogynous species, so you can keep one queen in a test tube/formicarium. During their development, cocoon does not appear. From puppy to adult worker, about. 6-8 weeks are needed. The Queen could live up to 10 years.
Oecophylla smaragdina is a tropical species, so it does not need to be hibernated. They can be kept at room temperature in winter (December – February).
They eat almost anything, but mainly insects and worms. They can also be fed honey and sugary water. Always have a fresh water supply for them.
Attention!
As this species is not native to Hungary, it is strictly forbidden to release it into the wild!
Its bite is painful, so it is not recommended to hold it. No liability for any injury, accident or damage caused by this species. The buyer accepts this and buys with this knowledge.
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- You can find useful videos about them on our TikTok channel.
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