Polyrhachis abdominalis

The appeal is right there on the workers: the sculpted spines this genus is known for, on a hardy tropical ant that forgives small mistakes while you learn. It has no sting and only a mild bite, so setup and close observation stay relaxed. There is plenty of long-term potential in a single nest, which makes it satisfying to grow out. A good fit for a beginner who wants a striking, armoured species and a calm keeping experience rather than anything fiddly.

Polyrhachis are omnivores with a real sweet tooth, tending sugary liquids and honeydew while taking insect prey to raise the brood. Keep a carbohydrate source available at all times and offer protein two to three times a week; they leave seeds untouched.

★★★ readily · ★★ moderately · ★ occasionally · ✗ not eaten

Found the queen in a test tube, then move the colony once the first workers cover the floor. This Bornean rainforest ant lives in high humidity, so give it a moisture-holding nest of aerated concrete (Ytong), gypsum or a hybrid box kept reliably damp. As a semi-arboreal climber it appreciates a planted or moist arena with twigs and bark to scale. These climbers test barriers, so keep a firm fluon (PTFE) or oil band, or talc and water. An ANTonTOP formicarium or starter kit arrives humidity-matched with arena and barrier included.

There is no hibernation, so keep it warm, humid and active all year. A rainforest species from Borneo, abdominalis wants warmth and high humidity: nest 24-27 °C, arena 25-29 °C, with nest humidity 70-85% and arena 60-75%. Warm one end of the arena for a slight gradient the colony can move along.

Spiny ants grow at a moderate, steady tropical pace, with a single queen taking the colony toward as many as 10,000 workers over time. Your colony arrives as the queen with her workers and brood, ready to settle into a humid nest.

• Polyrhachis is one of the largest ant genera in the Old World tropics, with hundreds of species spread across Africa, Asia and Australia.
• The spines that give spiny ants their name are pure armour, making the workers awkward for predators to grip or swallow.
• Many Polyrhachis weave silk nests, with workers using their own larvae as living glue-guns to bind leaves together, much like the famous weaver ants.
• Despite the spiky look, these ants have no sting and only a mild bite, relying on armour and silk rather than venom.

Is this a good beginner ant?

Yes, it is rated Beginner, hardy and has no sting.

Does this spiny ant need a winter rest?

No, it is tropical, so keep it warm and active year-round.

Does Polyrhachis abdominalis sting or bite?

No, there is no sting and only a mild bite.

How big does the colony get?

A single-queen colony can grow up to 10,000 workers.

How large is the queen?

The queen is 9-13 mm, with workers at 8-11 mm.

How fast does it grow?

Growth is moderate and steady for a tropical spiny ant.

What do spiny ants eat?

Sugar water, nectar or jelly and fresh insects; it does not take seeds.

Will the ants arrive alive?

Yes, queen, workers and brood ship with a heat or cool pack, dispatched within 24 h with tracking.

Escape prevention. Coat the inner rim of every open arena with fluon (PTFE), or use talc-and-water or an oil barrier as a backup, and keep a tight, fine-mesh lid on top. Check the barrier regularly, since dust, condensation and feeding debris break a fluon line over time. Keep tubing connectors tight and seal any gaps in the nest.

Keeping reminders. Always offer fresh water and never let the nest dry out completely. Give carbohydrates continuously and protein a few times a week, and remove uneaten insect prey within 24 hours before it moulds. Keep the formicarium out of direct sunlight and away from constant vibration, which stresses a young colony. A water-filled test tube plugged with cotton makes an ideal spare incubator whenever you need one.

Before you buy – do not rehouse too early. Have a test-tube setup or a small formicarium with an outworld and a working barrier ready before your colony arrives. A founding colony grows slowly at first, which is normal. Moving a small colony into a large nest too soon invites mould, mites and stress, and the workers die off one by one. Keep the colony in its open test tube on the arena, plug the nest entrance with cotton, and open up the next chambers only once the colony fills roughly 10-15% of the space.

What we ship. Every colony ships with a live-arrival guarantee, backed by our 24h unboxing-video guarantee: if the queen does not arrive alive, we reship free. Parcels travel with DHL, InPost (PL) or EMS, with a heat or cold pack to suit the season, packed discreetly and securely. We ship across the EU and worldwide, with free shipping over the Europe threshold.