The numbers
Enclosure
Test-tube/small founding; bioactive soil-clay nest + outworld
Diet
Live insects (crickets, small roaches); little sugar · Protein 2-3x/week (obligate predator)
Temperature
22-26C
Humidity
70-80%
Identity
Order / Family
Hymenoptera
Origin
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Specialist keepers; occasional in trade
Adult size
Worker 14-16mm; queen similar; big eyes
Lifespan
Queen several yrs; small colonies (tens-hundreds)
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Ground predator, visual hunter, semi-diurnal; jumps
Temperament
Alert, defensive; will sting
Venom / defense
Functional STING (hornet-like, lingers hours) + strong mandibles - handle with care
Price (THB)
indicative ~500-1,500
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
22-26C
Humidity
70-80%
Min. enclosure
Test-tube/small founding; bioactive soil-clay nest + outworld
Substrate
Cocopeat/clay bioactive nest; leaf litter
Hides / decor / water
High humidity, leaf litter, hides; live-prey hunting space
Diet
Staple food
Live insects (crickets, small roaches); little sugar
Feeding frequency
Protein 2-3x/week (obligate predator)
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Do not handle - painful sting
Communal
Single colony; workers can become gamergates
Defense / stress signs
Jumping, sting posture, big-eyed tracking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Semi-claustral; mated workers (gamergates) can reproduce if queen lost - colonies can persist queenless
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsSlow growth, feeding refusal, dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsSTING risk; secure lid; never release; keep away from children
Good to know
- Has excellent vision and leaps onto prey; workers can turn into egg-laying 'gamergates'
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