Bug FAQRich Spiny Sugar ant
Polyrhachis dives · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Source: Wikipedia
The rich spiny sugar ant is smaller than the related Polyrhachis lamellidens, which makes it more timid.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Across its wide range the species shows little morphological variation, with only minor differences between individuals. Southeast Asian specimens often have a deeper notch on the front of the clypeus and eyes that rarely extend beyond the side of the head.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
When disturbed it can bite, delivering a strong and painful wound.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It nests in trees, using silk from its larvae to stitch leaves together. It favors open savannah woodlands and swampy coastal plains, building relatively large silk or carton nests with many colonies among branches and shrub leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
In Japan it is smaller and more timid than the similar Polyrhachis lamellidens.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Does the rich spiny sugar ant bite?
Yes, it can bite and the bite is described as strong and painful.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this ant build its nests?
It builds nests in trees, stitching leaves together with larval silk.
Source: Wikipedia
What habitats does it prefer?
It prefers open savannah woodlands and swampy coastal plains, often having many nests among branches and shrub leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhachis_dives
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Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.