Polyrhachis dives are lessor weaver ants that make airboreal nests by using silk produced by their larvae.
Polyrhachis dives
Polyrhachis dives are a species from South-Asia found in open woodlands and swampy coastal plains, where it builds a characteristic carton structure on the lower branches of grasses, trees and shrubs, joining the foliage and twigs with larval silk to form the nest. Polyrhachis is polygynous, often with approximately 50 queens in a colony. This mean the ants can form super colonies and build massive nests.
Queen are around 10-15 mm and workers are a little bit smaller ranging from 5-9 mm. The species has one cast and does not produce majors or soldiers. The queens found semi-claustral meaning they need to be fed during founding and hunt for their food.
Colonies don't get very large despite their polygynous behaviour. Most captive colonies can range from 2000-3000 workers.
They are often called lesser weaver ants because real weaver ants weave leaves. Polyrhachis dives weaves everything together to make a nest.
Source: AntWiki
