Bothriomyrmex meridionalis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: West Mediterranean region including Iberia, southern France, Morocco, and parts of the Balkans. Found in Mediterranean habitats from sea level up to 1,223m elevation, typically under stones in rocky meadows and soil ^[6][7].
• Colony Type: Temporary social parasite, queens must invade Tapinoma colonies to establish. Colonies eventually become pure Bothriomyrmex after replacing the host queen ^[8]. Mixed colonies with Tapinoma erraticum have been observed ^[4][6].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: size data unavailable, only head measurement data exists ^[2]
  • Worker: 1.9-2.9mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, likely small to moderate given parasitic lifestyle. Pure and populous nests have been found ^[8].
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, development has not been studied ^[2] (Development timeline unconfirmed due to limited research on this species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Mediterranean species, keep at room temperature around 18-24°C. Provide a gentle gradient if possible. Avoid temperatures below 15°C.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity preferred. Keep nest substrate slightly moist but not waterlogged. These ants naturally nest under stones in well-drained soils ^[6].
  • Diapause: Likely requires winter rest period given Mediterranean distribution. Reduce temperature to 10-15°C for 2-3 months during winter.
  • Nesting: Test tubes or small acrylic nests work well. Provide moist substrate for founding. Since this is a parasitic species, you MUST include a host Tapinoma colony for the queen to invade ^[5][8].
• Behavior: Queens are temporary social parasites that invade Tapinoma colonies. After adoption by workers, they decapitate the host queen and take over the colony ^[4]. Workers are relatively slow-moving compared to Tapinoma ^[1]. They feed on honeydew from aphids and small insects. Escape risk is moderate, use standard barriers. Unlike their Tapinoma hosts, they do not produce defensive secretions with strong odor ^[9].
• Common Issues: parasitic nature makes this species extremely difficult to keep, you need both the parasite queen AND a host Tapinoma colony, colonies may fail if the host Tapinoma colony is too small or weak to accept the invader, mixed colonies require careful balance, host Tapinoma may outcompete Bothriomyrmex if populations are uneven, very limited availability, this species is rarely sold and difficult to find, biology is poorly known due to historical confusion with similar species, so care recommendations are largely inferred ^[2]

Understanding the Parasitic Lifestyle

Bothriomyrmex meridionalis is one of the few truly parasitic ants available in the antkeeping hobby. Unlike most ant species where a queen founds a colony alone, this species requires a host colony to establish. A newly mated queen must locate and invade a Tapinoma colony (typically Tapinoma erraticum or Tapinoma nigerrimum) ^[5]. She gains acceptance by workers through pheromonal mimicry or attractive glandular secretions, then proceeds to decapitate the host queen and take over the colony ^[4]. This temporary social parasitism means the Bothriomyrmex queen uses the host workers to raise her first brood until her own workers emerge. Over time, the colony transitions to pure Bothriomyrmex as host workers die off. This makes keeping this species significantly more challenging than typical ants, you essentially need two colonies to start one.

Housing and Nest Setup

Housing B. meridionalis requires a dual approach: you need both the parasitic Bothriomyrmex queen AND a healthy Tapinoma host colony. Set up the Tapinoma colony first and allow it to establish for several months before introducing the Bothriomyrmex queen. Use standard test tubes or small acrylic nests for the Tapinoma colony. The nest should have moist substrate and moderate humidity. For the introduction, place the Bothriomyrmex queen near the Tapinoma colony's outworld, success rates vary, and the queen may be rejected or attacked by host workers. Some keepers report better success by introducing the queen during colony disturbance or when the Tapinoma queen is already weak. Once accepted, the host workers will tend to both queens until the Bothriomyrmex queen eliminates the Tapinoma queen. ^[8][4]

Feeding and Diet

Bothriomyrmex meridionalis workers feed on honeydew from aphids and small insects, similar to their Tapinoma hosts ^[1]. Offer sugar water or honey water as a constant energy source. For protein, provide small insects like fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or other appropriately-sized prey. Workers have been observed visiting aphid colonies in large numbers ^[1], so if you keep aphids in the setup, the ants will readily tend them. Feed the Tapinoma host colony normally, they are not picky eaters and will accept most ant foods. The combined colony should have access to both sugar sources and protein prey at all times.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a Mediterranean species, B. meridionalis prefers warmer temperatures in the range of 18-24°C. Room temperature is typically suitable for this species. During summer, normal room temperatures are ideal. In winter, given their Mediterranean origin, they likely benefit from a reduced temperature period of 2-3 months at around 10-15°C, though this is not absolutely required if room temperatures remain moderate year-round. Avoid keeping them in consistently cold conditions below 15°C. The elevation range in the wild extends up to 1,223m ^[7], suggesting they can tolerate cooler conditions than typical tropical ants, but they still prefer warmth.

Finding and Acquiring This Species

Bothriomyrmex meridionalis is one of the rarest ants available in the hobby due to its parasitic lifestyle. It is rarely sold by ant breeders because of the complexity involved in establishing colonies. If you want to keep this species, your best options are: search for specialized European ant sellers who may occasionally have colonies, try to locate wild colonies in Mediterranean regions where they occur, or connect with advanced antkeepers who may have successfully established mixed colonies. The species has been recorded in Spain, Portugal, southern France, Morocco, and parts of the Balkans ^[3]. Finding a wild colony requires locating mixed nests with Tapinoma, which is challenging. Given the difficulty, this species is really only suitable for expert antkeepers who have experience with parasitic species and already maintain Tapinoma colonies.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References