Tetraponera nigra

Tetraponera nigra is a pro tetraponera from India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Uniform jet-black slender body with long legs and powerful sting. An Indian twig ant — uniformly jet-black, slender, with one of the most potent stings in the Asian ant world. Tetraponera — slender Old World twig ants, the Asian-African cousins of Pseudomyrmex.

Start the founded queen in a sealed glass test tube setup until the colony reaches 15–20 workers. Then move to a small-to-medium formicarium of acrylic, ytong or plaster with a connected outworld. Add red filter film or a dark cover to give the colony a sense of nest darkness.

Keep the nest at 22–28 °C during the active season. Humidity in the nest chambers should sit around 40–65 %, with one wetter zone the colony can choose. Avoid direct sun and heavy hot spots — gentle ambient warmth from a low-wattage heat mat on one wall is ideal.

Sugar source: live or fresh-frozen and thawed insects 2–3 times per week — crickets, mealworms, cockroach nymphs, small spiders. Sugar water optional but accepted occasionally.

Protein: fresh frozen and thawed insects — crickets, mealworms, fruit flies, cockroaches — 1–2 times per week. Increase frequency when brood is present.

Variety helps: rotate prey species so the colony gets a balanced amino-acid profile; never feed only mealworms.

Hydration: always offer plain water on a separate cotton, never let the test tube reservoir run dry.

Hygiene: remove leftover insects after 24 hours to prevent mould and mites.

Winter rest is essential for this species. Tropical conditions only; constant 24–28 °C required. Drop temperature gradually over 2 weeks, keep the colony in a cool, dark, draft-free place, check humidity weekly, and resume normal feeding when temperatures rise again in spring. Skipping hibernation shortens queen life and disrupts brood cycles.

Apply PTFE escape barrier on the top inner edge of the outworld — reapply every few months.

Use a tight lid with fine mesh; check it after every cleaning.

Inspect the formicarium silicone joints and tubing connectors monthly.

Keep the outworld dry on the inside edge where PTFE is applied — wet PTFE loses grip.

Never disturb the queen during founding. Keep her in the dark, in a test tube, with minimal vibration.

Move the colony to a formicarium only when there are 15–20 workers and the test tube is genuinely full.

Always offer water on a separate cotton outside the food.

Quarantine any new insect feed for 24 hours before offering it to the colony.

Avoid synthetic fragrances, smoke and aerosols in the room with the colony.

This is an advanced species for experienced keepers only. Specialised diet, temperature control, or temperament makes it unsuitable for first colonies. Make sure you have the setup and confidence to keep it before ordering.

Your colony ships in a sealed glass test tube with a cotton water reservoir and a cotton plug — the same setup we use ourselves. It is packed in an insulated, padded shipping box. We hand-pick every colony, count workers and inspect the queen on the day of dispatch.

• Described by Thomas Jerdon in 1851 from India — the species name (nigra = black) describes the uniformly black body.
• Ranges across India, Sri Lanka, and into parts of Southeast Asia.
• Strictly arboreal — workers nest inside hollow twigs and small branches in tropical forest.
• Has one of the most potent stings of any Asian ant — sometimes confused with paper wasps because of the sting and the slender twig-ant build.
• Recommended only for very experienced ant keepers prepared for the strong sting.

How big can the colony grow?

monogyne, claustral founding, small colonies 100–500 workers in hollow twigs. Growth is steady but not explosive — give the colony 1–2 years to reach a few hundred workers.

Is this species safe around children and pets?

Workers can bite or sting defensively when the formicarium is opened. Supervise children and keep curious pets away from the setup.

Will the colony arrive alive?

Yes. We use insulated, padded boxes and ship only on weekdays when forecasted weather along the route is safe. If anything goes wrong in transit, contact us within 24 hours of delivery with photos.

Can I skip hibernation?

No. Hibernation is essential for this temperate species — queens need the cold rest to maintain long-term fertility and brood cycles.

Can I see this species in your video shorts?

We post regular video shorts of feeding sessions, brood close-ups and worker behaviour on our social channels.