Dinomyrmex gigas (Giant Forest Ant)

Dinomyrmex Gigas - the Giant Forest Ant

Behold, T-H-E world's largest Ant, D-I-N-O-M-Y-R-M-E-X GIGAS. This rarely seen species in the hobby is highly sought after due to its large impressive frame as queens measure upto 35mm in size. Some comments that were said directly here from the HQ when they arrived:

Person A: "No way is this an ant - this must be some sort of beetle/ant mutation!"

Person B: "Can I hold her, please, please?"

Person C: "Yeah, I'm just going to throw this test tube in the bin, let me get a tank"

Workers of this species can typically reach to be an inch long, (notice we're no longer talking about mm's here as we usually do in the world of ants) and use their long limbs very efficiently to climb up and down through all the obstacles one could imagine in the depths of a tropical rainforest.

Dinomyrmex gigas are not able to sting but will most definitely use all the muscles available to them in their giant sized mandibles when threatened, to the extent of drawing blood too - keepers beware! Despite this fearsome ability, these ants are not aggressive by nature and will only resort to this if provoked. 

Colonies which hail all the way from South East Asia, will typically nest within the large root network and butresses of trees found in the forest. Within these cavities, a whole 'micro ecosystem' can be found as teeny tiny arthropods such as springtails and isopods are found co-existing within the ants' chambers, these which are often entwined with moss and twigs from the rainforest floor. 

In addition to their spectacular size, they are also strinkingly coloured with workers and queens bodies being a shiny jet black (head and thorax) and deep orange (gaster) colour.

To ensure the highest success rate possible in founding or rearing a young queen/colony - these should not be kept in test tubes and instead, should be placed in small ventilated tanks or pots. These should have a 2-3cms layer of cocoa fibre, sand and clay mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio for optimal humidity and mould control. 

Placing a small piece of bark or similar structure also helps mimic the cavities these queens would dig/find when starting their journey in founding a colony. 

Queens of this species are fully claustral but we have found that feeding them a droplet of sugar water every 15-20 days, seems to decrease the likelihood of the queens eating their own brood and therefore, increase success rates. 

Once the first workers appear, colonies are truly omnivorous and opportunists. They seem to be particularly fond of small roaches, mealworms and wax worms in combination with a sugary liquid source. 

Initially, due to their nocturnal nature we find young colonies to be relatively shy and timid but once the population increases, foraging seems to occur at most times of the day. 

Finally, temperature & humidity parameters should be kept at a stable 24-25C and 60% for optimum growth. 

It is illegal and strictly frowned upon to release any non-native ants into the wild.