Scientific illustration of Stigmatomma sakaii ant - showing key identification features including head, thorax, and gaster.

Stigmatomma sakaii

Non-Parasitic Queen Nein Gamergate
Wiss. Name
Stigmatomma sakaii
Tribus
Amblyoponini
Unterfamilie
Amblyoponinae
Autor
Terayama, 1989
Verbreitung
In 0 Ländern gefunden

Einleitung

Stigmatomma sakaii is a small, cryptic ant from the Amblyoponinae subfamily. Its head is elongated and trapezoidal - wider at the front than the back . The mandibles have five sets of paired teeth on the chewing surface , and the front edge of the clypeus (the plate above the mouth) has eight small teeth . Antennae have 11 segments . This species lives in leaf-litter, rotting wood, and soil under stones in well-developed forests and forest edges in Taiwan and Japan . It was first discovered in Taiwan . Stigmatomma sakaii is a predator that hunts small arthropods like springtails in the leaf-litter. It spends most of its time hidden in nest chambers. Capturing a colony is difficult because queens are rarely seen - this makes them a prized species for experienced antkeepers.

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Status nach Land, von Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Heimisch Invasiv Eingeschleppt (innen) Abgefangen Unbekannt
Datenquellen
Jahresbereich 2000 - 2026

Quick Summary

  • Difficulty: Expert
  • Origin & Habitat: Native to Taiwan and Japan [3]. Found in well-developed forests and forest edges, where they nest in leaf-litter, rotting wood, and soil under stones [1][2].
  • Colony Type: Unknown. Colony structure has not been documented for this species.
  • Size & Growth:
    • Queen: No data available.
    • Worker: No data available.
    • Colony: Unknown.
    • Growth: Unknown.
    • Development: Unknown, no specific data. Based on related Amblyoponinae species, development may take several weeks, but this is not confirmed. (All development data for S. sakaii is undocumented.)
  • Antkeeping:
    • Temperature: No specific data. Based on its forest-floor habitat in temperate/subtropical Asia, keep at typical room temperature (20-25°C). Avoid extremes above 28°C.
    • Humidity: No specific data. High humidity is typical for forest-floor dwellers. Keep the nest substrate moist but not waterlogged. Provide a humid environment.
    • Diapause: Likely yes, given the temperate winter in parts of its range (Japan). Provide a cooling period of 2-3 months at 10-15°C if the colony is kept in a temperate climate. Reduce feeding during this time.
    • Nesting: Requires dark, humid spaces. Y-tong (AAC) nests, plaster nests, or naturalistic soil setups work well. Provide plenty of cover and leaf-litter in the outworld.
  • Behavior: Secretive and slow-moving. Workers have functional stingers but are not aggressive toward humans. They spend most time in the nest, only emerging to hunt small prey. Escape risk is moderate due to small size, ensure tight seals on all openings.
  • Common Issues: high humidity requirements make mold a threat, ensure ventilation while keeping moisture., slow colony growth requires patience, no data on typical growth rate., specialized diet of live micro-prey (springtails), they cannot survive on sugar water alone., wild-caught colonies may be stressed or carry parasites, causing failure., difficulty finding queens in the wild makes establishing colonies challenging.

Housing and Nest Preferences

Stigmatomma sakaii needs a dark, humid home that mimics the forest floor. Y-tong (AAC) or plaster nests work well because they hold moisture. You can also use a naturalistic setup with soil and rotting wood [1]. Make sure chambers are small, these ants live in tight spaces in leaf-litter and under stones. The outworld should be simple with some leaf-litter for cover, they don't actively forage in open areas.

Feeding and Diet

Stigmatomma sakaii is a predator that eats live small prey. In the wild, it hunts springtails and other micro-arthropods in the leaf-litter [1]. In captivity, provide live springtails, fruit flies, or tiny isopods. Offer small amounts a few times per week. Remove any uneaten prey after a day to prevent mold. They are unlikely to accept sugar water or honey, their diet is protein-based.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep the nest at room temperature (20-25°C, there is no specific data for this species). Avoid temperatures above 28°C. During winter, give the colony a cooling period of 2-3 months at 10-15°C if you live in a temperate region, this matches the seasonal cycle in Japan. Keep the humidity up even during diapause.

Behavior and Temperament

Workers are secretive and slow. They have a functional sting but rarely use it on humans, they prefer to flee or hide. They spend almost all their time inside the nest, only coming out to hunt. This is normal behavior, not a sign of stress. They are not climbers but are small enough to escape through tiny gaps, so seal the setup well.

Colony Establishment

Finding a queen is very hard, few are ever seen in the wild. If you get a queen, set her up in a small test tube with a water reservoir and a humid, dark chamber. Since founding behavior is unknown, provide small live prey like springtails in case she needs to hunt during founding. Keep the tube dark and quiet. There is no published data on how long development takes, expect to wait several weeks to months. Patience is key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep Stigmatomma sakaii in a test tube?

Test tubes are a good starting point. Since founding behavior is unknown, use a test tube with a water plug and offer small live prey near the entrance. Keep the tube dark and humid. This setup works for both possible founding types.

When should I move Stigmatomma sakaii to a formicarium?

Move the colony to a larger nest only when the test tube becomes crowded. There is no data on colony growth, so watch for signs of stress like ants trying to escape or mold. A small Y-tong nest is appropriate.

How long until first workers in Stigmatomma sakaii?

This has not been documented. Related Amblyoponinae take 6-10 weeks under warm conditions, but for S. sakaii it is unknown. Keep conditions stable and be patient.

Do Stigmatomma sakaii ants sting?

Yes, they have a functional sting like other Amblyoponinae. They are not aggressive, stings only happen if the ant is pressed against skin. The sting is painful for a short time but not medically significant for healthy people.

What do Stigmatomma sakaii eat?

They are specialist predators that need live prey. Springtails, small isopods, and fruit flies are ideal [1]. They do not eat sugar water or honey. Offer prey every few days.

Are Stigmatomma sakaii good for beginners?

No. Their unknown care requirements, need for live prey, high humidity, and cryptic nature make them suitable only for experienced keepers.

Do Stigmatomma sakaii need hibernation?

Likely yes, because they are found in temperate Japan. If you keep them in a temperate climate, provide a cooling period of 2-3 months at 10-15°C during winter. If in a tropical climate, you may not need to hibernate them.

Why are my Stigmatomma sakaii dying?

28°C). Wild-caught colonies may also have internal parasites.

How big do Stigmatomma sakaii colonies get?

Unknown. No published data on mature colony size. Based on the cryptic lifestyle, colonies likely stay small (under 100 workers), but this is speculation.

Can I keep multiple queens together?

Not recommended. There is no evidence that this species is polygyne. House each queen separately.

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References

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