Nicobar Carpenter Ant

It shows a striking red-orange and black color pattern. Queens measure 14–16 mm, while workers come in two sizes: minors at 5–7 mm and majors at 8–12 mm. This size difference lets the colony divide labor clearly between castes.

Native to South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, China, and Taiwan. In the wild it nests in rotting logs, fallen wood, and damp bark.

Notable Behavior: One of the Most Docile Carpenter Ants

The Nicobar Carpenter Ant is known for being unusually docile and non-aggressive. Young colonies tend to forage mostly at night, but once a colony passes about 100 workers it becomes active around the clock. It has no sting, making it safe even for older children to observe.

It's a generalist feeder, eating live prey like crickets and roaches alongside sugar syrup, fruit, jelly, and other protein sources. It's a voracious eater and grows quickly.

This is an easy carpenter ant well suited to beginners, forgiving of care mistakes. The colony size listed (1,000–3,000 workers) reflects a typical size in captivity, though some wild colonies can number in the tens of thousands.

Good to Know

The Nicobar Carpenter Ant is one of the most popular Asian carpenter ants in the international ant-keeping market, prized for its attractive coloring and easy care — a staple offering at ant shops both in Thailand and abroad.

The ideal temperature range is 24–28°C, with humidity around 60–70%. It adapts well and is easy to keep — feed with honey or sugar water alongside a steady supply of insect protein.