Invertebrates
Green Weaver Ant
Oecophylla smaragdina · also called asian weaver ant
Holding a larva gently in its mandibles like a tube of glue, a worker green weaver ant draws silk across two leaf edges, cooperating with dozens of other workers to stitch together an elaborate nest high in the forest canopy.
Overview
The green weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is widespread across tropical forest habitat in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. Its remarkable leaf-stitching nest construction using larvae as living silk tools, highly cooperative colony behaviour, and aggressive territorial defence make it one of the most behaviourally sophisticated ants found anywhere.
Living tools for a living nest
No other common ant behaviour matches the green weaver ant’s method of nest construction, coordinating workers to hold leaves in place while other workers use larvae, held like tubes of glue, to bind the leaves together with silk.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status, widespread across suitable tropical forest habitat throughout its range.
Green Weaver Ant: common questions
How does the green weaver ant build its nest?
Workers pull leaves together into position, then other workers hold larvae in their mandibles and use the silk the larvae produce to stitch the leaves together, effectively using the larvae as living silk-producing tools in a remarkably cooperative construction process.
Is the green weaver ant dangerous?
It is not dangerous to humans in a serious way, but it defends its territory aggressively, biting intruders and spraying formic acid, making it an unpleasant ant to disturb.
What does the green weaver ant eat?
It is an omnivore, eating insects, honeydew produced by aphids, and plant nectar.
Where is the green weaver ant found?
It is native to tropical forest habitat across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia.