- Scientific name
- Dinomyrmex gigas
- Common name
- Giant Forest Ant
- Origin
- Southeast Asia: Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, Singapore and southern Thailand
- Difficulty
- Expert level
- Worker ant size
- About 20–28 mm; the largest workers (majors) can reach about 30 mm
- Queens
- One queen (monogynous)
- Humidity
- 70–80 %
- Winter rest
- Not required
The giant forest ant is one of the largest ants in the world. This guide gives you a practical overview. The species page has the full profile: Dinomyrmex gigas. The group guide, carpenter ant care, covers the wider family.
What makes it demanding
- Size. Workers are about 20–28 mm and the largest about 30 mm, so chambers must be roomy.
- Humidity. Ant-keeping sources suggest about 70–80 percent in the nest, in a moisture-holding nest such as Ytong or gypsum.
- Slow growth. A young colony needs many months to produce its first workers.
- Temperature. Sources disagree, from a constant 22 °C to about 24–28 °C, so we do not publish a figure. Cool nights are mentioned by ant-keeping sources.
Feeding
In nature about 90 percent of the diet is honeydew. In captivity ant keepers offer sugar water or diluted honey regularly, and insects as protein. See feeding ant colonies.
Activity
A nocturnal species. Workers leave the nest around dusk, climb to collect honeydew and return around dawn, so evening is the time to watch them.
Colony
A single queen leads the colony, which in nature spreads over several connected underground nests. Ant-keeping sources report queens living 15 to 20 years. There are two worker types, smaller foragers and large majors. Large workers of neighbouring colonies are known to take part in ritual fights at territory borders.
No winter rest
The species is tropical, and ant-keeping sources describe it as active all year.
Who it suits
Ant-keeping sources rate it Expert. It suits a patient ant keeper who can offer a warm, humid, roomy setup and does not mind slow progress.
Frequently asked questions
Does it need a winter rest?
No.
Why do you not give a temperature?
Because published sources disagree. We prefer to say so rather than pick a number.
Is it for beginners?
No. Choose an easier species first. See choosing your first ant species.
Interested in Dinomyrmex gigas?
See the species profile, check availability or ask us a question before you decide. You never have to go through checkout to ask.