Weaver Ant (Oecophylla)

Scientific Name: Oecophylla smaragdina

Order & Family: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae

Size: 8 to 10 mm for workers; queens are significantly larger, up to 20-25 mm.

Natural Habitat

Tropical forests and gardens across Asia and Australia, predominantly inhabiting tree canopies.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on small insects, invertebrates, and honeydew excreted by sap-sucking insects (aphids and scale insects).

Behavior Patterns

Notable for building arboreal nests by weaving living leaves together using silk produced by their larvae. They are highly territorial, social insects that live in complex colonies with multiple nests.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: Effective biological control agents as they prey on agricultural pests. Risks: Aggressive if disturbed, possessing a painful bite and the ability to spray formic acid into the wound site.

Identified on: 4/27/2026