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

Apterostigma acre

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Apterostigma acre
Tribe
Attini
Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Author
Lattke, 1997
Distribution
Found in 2 countries
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Introduction

Apterostigma acre is a small fungus-growing ant from the Attini tribe, found in the tropical forests of Brazil (São Paulo and Acre states) and French Guiana [AntWiki]. The species was first described from specimens collected in São Paulo state . These ants cultivate fungal gardens as their primary food source. In the Brazilian state of Acre, researchers found them only in undisturbed forest plots and absent from logged areas, indicating they need stable, mature forest conditions .

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Status by country, from Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Native Invasive Introduced (indoor) Intercepted Unknown
Data Sources
Year Range 2000 - 2026

Quick Summary

  • Difficulty: Expert
  • Origin & Habitat: Tropical rainforests of Brazil (São Paulo and Acre states) and French Guiana, prefers undisturbed mature forest over logged areas [3][2]
  • Colony Type: Unconfirmed, likely single-queen colonies based on typical Apterostigma patterns
  • Size & Growth:
    • Queen: size data unavailable, inferred from Apterostigma genus (~4-5 mm)
    • Worker: size data unavailable, inferred from Apterostigma genus (~3-4 mm)
    • Colony: Colony size is unknown for this species. Based on typical Apterostigma patterns, colonies likely reach a few hundred workers at most.
    • Growth: Slow
    • Development: Development time is unconfirmed for this species. Based on typical Attini patterns, expect 6-10 weeks from egg to worker at tropical temperatures. (Fungus-growing ants typically have slower development than generalist ant species.)
  • Antkeeping:
    • Temperature: Keep warm around 25-28°C, based on tropical origin [3]
    • Humidity: High humidity required, maintain damp nest material similar to tropical forest floor conditions
    • Diapause: No, tropical species do not require winter rest [2]
    • Nesting: Requires specialized setup for fungus garden cultivation, naturalistic setups with organic material and space for fungal growth
  • Behavior: Slow-moving, cryptic fungus-growers, not aggressive but highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations and contamination. Possesses a functional stinger typical of Attini tribe [2].
  • Common Issues: fungus garden failure from incorrect growing medium or contamination., colony collapse due to low humidity or temperature swings., mold growth in poorly ventilated high-humidity setups., extreme rarity in captivity makes finding queens difficult.

Fungus Garden Requirements

As a member of the Attini tribe, Apterostigma acre cultivates fungal gardens for food. In captivity, you must provide appropriate fungal growing material. Unlike leafcutter ants that use fresh leaves, Apterostigma species often cultivate fungus on insect feces, decaying plant matter, or other organic material. You will need to research specific growing medium recipes used by other Attini keepers, as the exact preferences for A. acre are unconfirmed. The fungus garden requires constant humidity and warm temperatures to survive. Contamination from mold or mites can destroy the garden and kill the colony. [2]

Housing and Setup

Standard test tubes and acrylic nests do not work for fungus-growing ants. You need a setup that accommodates the fungal growing material, typically a naturalistic enclosure with soil, decaying wood, or a specialized chamber for the fungus garden. The nest area must stay dark and humid while providing some ventilation to prevent mold. Because these ants are rarely kept in captivity, you will need to experiment with setups used for other small Attini species.

Temperature and Humidity

Coming from tropical Brazilian rainforests, Apterostigma acre needs warm, stable conditions. Keep the nest area around 25-28°C with minimal fluctuations. High humidity is essential, the nest material should feel damp but not waterlogged. Use a heating cable on one side of the nest to create a gentle gradient, but ensure it does not dry out the fungus garden. Avoid air conditioning or drafty locations that could chill the colony. [3]

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep Apterostigma acre in a test tube?

No. Unlike many ant species that start in test tubes, fungus-growing ants like Apterostigma acre require immediate access to fungal growing material. A test tube setup cannot support the fungus garden they need to survive.

How difficult are Apterostigma acre to keep?

These are expert-level ants. They require specialized fungus garden maintenance, precise temperature and humidity control, and are extremely sensitive to environmental changes. Very few antkeepers have successfully maintained Apterostigma species in captivity.

What do Apterostigma acre eat?

They eat fungus that they cultivate themselves. You do not feed them directly like other ants. Instead, you provide the organic material (such as decaying plant matter or insect feces) on which their symbiotic fungus grows. The ants then consume the fungus.

Do Apterostigma acre need heating?

Yes. As a tropical species from Brazil and French Guiana, they require warm temperatures around 25-28°C. Room temperature is too cold for them in most climates.

Do Apterostigma acre hibernate?

No. Being from tropical rainforests, they do not experience seasonal cold and do not require hibernation (winter rest). They remain active year-round at stable warm temperatures.

How big do Apterostigma acre colonies get?

Colony size is unknown for this species. Apterostigma colonies in general tend to stay small compared to other fungus-growing ants, possibly only a few dozen to a few hundred workers, but this is unconfirmed for A. acre specifically.

Can I keep multiple Apterostigma acre queens together?

This is unknown and not recommended. While some fungus-growing ants can have multiple queens, attempting to combine unrelated queens risks fighting and colony failure. Start with a single queen.

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References

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This caresheet is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 .