Lepisiota cacozela

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: West and Central Africa, found in Benin, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ivory Coast. Inhabits agricultural landscapes particularly cocoa farms and fruit orchards, nesting in dead branches and foraging on trees and herbaceous vegetation including cashew, kola, and mango orchards ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been directly studied for this species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, estimated 6-8mm based on typical Lepisiota genus patterns
  • Worker: Size data unavailable, estimated 3-4mm based on typical Lepisiota genus patterns
  • Colony: Unknown, estimated up to several hundred workers based on similar species
  • Growth: Moderate, estimated based on related species
  • Development: Estimated 6-8 weeks at optimal tropical temperatures (Development timeline is estimated based on typical Formicinae patterns. Tropical species typically develop faster than temperate species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C, these are tropical ants from West Africa and need warm conditions. A heating cable on one side of the nest creates a suitable gradient.
  • Humidity: Moderate to high humidity around 60-80%. These ants come from humid tropical regions and need moisture for brood development. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: No, as a tropical species from West Africa, they do not require hibernation. Maintain warm temperatures year-round.
  • Nesting: In nature they nest in dead branches. For captivity, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest works well. Provide dead wood or cork pieces if using a naturalistic setup. They appreciate having some plant material or debris in their outworld to build their characteristic tent structures.
• Behavior: These ants are moderately active foragers that tend aphids and coccids for honeydew. They are known to be antagonistic toward Oecophylla longinoda (weaver ants), suggesting they can be competitive and somewhat aggressive toward other ant species. Workers forage individually on vegetation and trees. Escape prevention should be good, while not extremely small, they are agile and will explore gaps. Their tent-building behavior is unique and may be observed in captivity if given appropriate materials.
• Common Issues: tropical species requires consistent warmth, cold temperatures will slow or stop brood development, honeydew dependency means they may reject sugar water initially, offer live prey and wait for them to discover honeydew sources, tent-building behavior may be misinterpreted as escape attempts if materials are not provided, aggressive toward other ant species, keep separate from mixed colonies, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites from agricultural settings

Housing and Nest Setup

Lepisiota cacozela can be kept in standard ant keeping setups. A Y-tong (AAC) nest works well, providing dark, humid chambers that mimic their natural nesting in dead branches. Alternatively, a plaster nest with a water reservoir maintains the moisture levels they need. For the outworld, include small pieces of dead wood, cork, or dried plant material, this allows them to exhibit their unique tent-building behavior where they construct protective coverings over aphid colonies. A small water test tube connected to the outworld provides drinking water. Ensure all connections are secure as these ants are agile and will find any loose connections. ^[1]

Feeding and Diet

In the wild, L. cacozela primarily feeds on honeydew from aphids and coccids they tend, along with small insects. In captivity, offer a varied diet including sugar water or honey as an energy source, and protein-rich foods like small crickets, mealworms, or fruit flies. Live prey is particularly important since they are active foragers. Some keepers report that Lepisiota species can be finicky about accepting sugar sources at first, if they ignore sugar water, try offering it near their tent structures or honeydew substitutes. Feed protein 2-3 times per week and keep a constant sugar source available. ^[1]

Temperature and Humidity

As a tropical species from West Africa, L. cacozela requires warm temperatures between 24-28°C. Use a heating cable or mat on one side of the nest to create a temperature gradient, allowing the ants to regulate their own temperature by moving between warmer and cooler areas. Keep humidity in the 60-80% range, the nest substrate should feel consistently moist but never waterlogged. These ants are sensitive to cold and temperatures below 20°C for extended periods can be harmful. Since they come from humid tropical regions, avoid keeping them in dry environments. ^[1]

Behavior and Colony Dynamics

This species is known for its unique tent-building behavior, constructing protective structures from vegetable debris and other materials over aphid colonies. They are aggressive toward other ant species, particularly Oecophylla longinoda (weaver ants), with whom they compete in agricultural settings. Workers forage actively on vegetation and can climb effectively. Colonies establish quickly once the queen begins laying eggs. The workers are moderately sized and handle general ant keeping tasks well. Watch for their characteristic foraging patterns on plants and provide opportunities for them to climb in the outworld. ^[1]

Seasonal Care

Unlike temperate species, L. cacozela does not require a diapause or hibernation period. Maintain consistent warm temperatures year-round. In their native range across Benin, Congo, and Ivory Coast, temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the year. Avoid any significant temperature drops and ensure heating is reliable, especially during winter months if your room temperature falls below their requirements. There is no specific seasonal breeding cycle, reproduction continues year-round in warm conditions. ^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

Report an Issue

The current care sheet is based fully on literature. See inconsistencies, or something that's incorrect? Please report here, it will be resolved after review from an admin. Contributing to the blogs tab also helps providing information, to make us be able to further improve the caresheets. Thank you for your support!

References