Oecophylla longinoda (african weaver ants)
Video:
| Latin Name: |  |
Oecophylla longinoda |
| Trivialname: |  |
Weaverant, Treeant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Oecophyllini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) higher requirements towards climate and escapeprevention |
| Distribution: |  |
tropical Africa |
| Habitat: |  |
tropical rainforest |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 12 - 14mm Colour: vigorous, yellowish brown |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 9mm Colour: yellowish brown to brown, slim with long extremities, polymorph |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 6 - 6,5mm Colour: blackish brown |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater, Insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 35°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in the canopy of trees using the silk of there offspring |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: L - XL depending on the chosen hostplant |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: - Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam suitable for Hostplant |
| Planting: |  |
similar to tropicalforest with moss and e. g. Money tree (Pachira aquatica), Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamini), Coffee (Coffea arabica), Citrusplant (Citrus) |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots |
| Description: |  |
Oecophylla longinoda is smaller then the asian specie but shows a greater workerpolymorphism. This antspecie lives in the canopy of different trees and plants. There they build nests with the silk of the larvae. The worker often build long chains between the leaves and "weave" with the silk. Through the Transpiration of the leaves there is always the right condtion inside the nest. Oecophylla is very aggressive and defend there territory against any Intruder. In asia they were used as biological agent for hundreds of years. They are searching for on the tree and on the ground. Together with the leafcutter ants they show one of the most complex communication system in all social insects. It contains of pheromones, tactile and optical communication. If there a lack of food or other unsuitabel conditions they often try to escape. Large colonies with there hundreds of bites and formicacid can also defend large Intruders( Keeper). |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: with begin of the rainseason founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: up to 100 000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
