Oeocphylla smaragdina – Colony with queen and workers

Description

Oeocophylla smaragdina benefits from the Fourmiculture for our ants:
1. Breeding approved by the Veterinary Services, conducted by a specialist with a certificate of competence,
2. Free "Perfect Ant Keeper's Guide" and health record provided,
3. Ants guaranteed parasite-free,
4. Health demonstrated by the queen laying eggs and the presence of brood upon shipment,
5. No "boost" (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
6. Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),

not threatened,
9. Colony buyback and costs covered if you wish to part with it (see conditions).

Oecophylla smaradina is a superb weaver ant whose queen is green or yellow , and whose workers are yellow (for those originating from Asia, like ours). This extraordinary species uses the silk of its larvae to weave leaves together and build its nest in trees . Highly aggressive, it is an excellent hunter , very active and always on the move. It uses formic acid and hunts in groups. It enjoys insects but also sugary liquids. Our colonies always contain brood with recently laid eggs, active workers, and a beautiful green queen.

Their care is rather unique. They do very well initially in a standard breeding tube, inside a closed box with a little slightly damp substrate, but it's advisable to use a terrarium with a large ficus tree and other leafy plants. The humidity should be high, around 70-90%, with some ventilation. You can place the potted ficus on a saucer of water to prevent escapes; it will then be like an island. However, using a terrarium helps retain the humidity vital to the ants (this setup is only possible if the air in the room is already quite humid). They do not require hibernation. A temperature of 21 to 26°C is recommended.

We therefore suggest two approaches to keeping them: using an aquarium with potted plants, accompanied by water dishes to increase humidity, and gentle ventilation. A hygrometer is recommended . They are excellent climbers, so be careful of escapes. Alternatively, a closed terrarium with a smaller plant and substrate offers a more natural and pleasing appearance. This system is better suited to young colonies and will limit their growth. Opening the lid is more difficult due to the risk of escapes, so we recommend an anti-escape device on the rim and leaving it open.

Photo queen Oeocphylla smaragdina: Didier Descouens

Latin name		Oecophylla smaragdina
Common name:		Weaver ant
Taxonomy:		Subfamily: Formicinae
Difficulty level		(2) Specific requirements regarding humidity, rearing environment, and escape prevention
Origin:		Southeast Asia
Habitat:		Tropical forests
Foundation type:		monogynous
Queen :		Size: 15-17mm Color: Green to yellow
Female workers:		Size: 6-14mm Color: Yellowish-brown, long legs, strong mandibles, elongated morphology
Soldiers:		None
Males:		Not described
Food :		Nectar, honeydew, sugary liquids, insects. Provide plenty of insects for development (crickets, fruit flies, etc.)
Air humidity:		70 to 90%
Temperature:		24–28°C
Diapause:		No, it's active all year round
Nest formation:		Builds its nest in the canopy using the silk of the larvae to weave the nest and partitions.
Type of artificial nest:		Terrarium, Aquarium, or plant on an island surrounded by water for humidity and to prevent escapes.
Terrarium size:		40cm or more for a young colony and its plant.
Substrate:		Provide the substrate appropriate for the plant, not necessary for ants.
Plantation:		Pachira aquatica, Ficus benjamini, Coffea arabica, Citrus
Decoration:		Branches, roots
Behavior :		Forming long chains of worker ants that hold onto each other to grasp leaves and hold them together, another worker weaves the leaves together using a larva and its silk. The leaves then provide protection and moisture. This species is very aggressive and defends its territory. Oeocphylla smaragdina has been used in Asia as a biological control agent for hundreds of years. This species exhibits complex and evolved communication through pheromones, contact, and visual cues.
Growth :		Swarming occurs at the beginning of the wet season. The queen establishes the colony alone and feeds her larvae. Rearing is possible in test tubes. The colony can reach up to 500,000 workers but generally forms small, interconnected nests made up of several leaf nests.
Quantity for sale:		1 guaranteed fertilized queen and her workers.

Photo and information: Antsore.net