The Tetraponera rufonigra is a striking and highly active arboreal ant species, prised by experienced ant keepers for its distinctive appearance, fast-moving workers and fascinating tree-dwelling lifestyle. Native to parts of South and Southeast Asia, this impressive species is well suited to keepers looking to explore the behaviour of specialised arboreal ants.
Its elegant, elongated body and contrasting reddish-orange and dark brown to black colouration give it a distinctive appearance. Adapted to life above ground, T. rufonigra displays intriguing climbing, foraging and nest-defence behaviours, making it an engaging species to observe in a carefully designed enclosure, they also carry a powerful sting to paralyse their prey.
With its active workers and specialised ecological niche, Tetraponera rufonigra offers a rewarding opportunity to keep something a little different from more commonly available ant species. Providing suitable arboreal nesting spaces, good ventilation, appropriate humidity and a varied diet is essential for maintaining a healthy colony.
Keeping difficulty: Advanced (experienced keepers recommended)
Colony form: Monogyne
Queen size: 13–15 mm Colour: Reddish-orange head and thorax with a glossy black gaster and long, slender legs.
Workers size: 7–10 mm Colour: Reddish-orange and black, with an elongated arboreal body shape.
Food: Honey water, sugar water, and a varied diet of live or freshly killed insects (flies, crickets, roaches and mealworms).
Temp: 24–30°C (ideal around 26–28°C)
Humidity: 50–70% (with good ventilation)
Founding: Claustral (the queen does not require feeding during founding)
Colony size: Up to 1,000–3,000 workers in mature colonies.
Keeping difficulty: Advanced (experienced keepers recommended)
Colony form: Monogyne
Queen size: 13–15 mm Colour: Reddish-orange head and thorax with a glossy black gaster and long, slender legs.
Workers size: 7–10 mm Colour: Reddish-orange and black, with an elongated arboreal body shape.
Food: Honey water, sugar water, and a varied diet of live or freshly killed insects (flies, crickets, roaches and mealworms).
Temp: 24–30°C (ideal around 26–28°C)
Humidity: 50–70% (with good ventilation)
Founding: Claustral (the queen does not require feeding during founding)
Colony size: Up to 1,000–3,000 workers in mature colonies.
Live arrival guarantee:
We guarantee the live arrival of your Queen they come well packed in our jiffy bags which have two-sided padding as well as an additional layer of bubble wrap around our test tubes. We are the only company in the United Kingdom to offer our live arrival guarantee of your queen as well as an additional 14 days guarantee if the colony if kept in the original test tube for all our European species. Why do we do this? We are confident with our colony’s health and our packaging process as well as our care guides, we also believe in our customers and making sure they have a good ant keeping experience.
Live arrival guarantee we ensure the live arrival of the queen only upon delivery contact us within 24 hours of receiving the Queen dead on arrival with a picture of the dead queen and the original workers. DO NOT TRANSFER THE DEAD QUEEN OR WORKERS TO A NEST AS THIS VOIDS YOUR WARRNTY. For our additional 14-day guarantee for European species the Queen and workers must be kept in the original test tube sealed with the cotton and care sheet instructions followed if you want to keep this additional guarantee do not transfer to a nest or your warranty is VOIDED (we recommend you keep the 14-day warranty).
We have no control over the environment outside the test tube and have no influence in the conditions the responsibility once placed outside the test tube within the 14-day period the responsibility is with the buyer. 9 times out of 10 colonies die in the nest due to lack of water access, food, temperature, oxygen or stress due to vibrations or exposure to excess light. If your colony does fail inside a nest contact us, we can advise what went wrong but it is up to you to buy another ant colony, you will succeed but sometimes it does not work the first time. Research is key to success with ant keeping and follow our guides.
