Lepisiota dolabellae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Native to the eastern Mediterranean region (Turkey, Greece, Israel) and extending into the Middle East (Iran, Saudi Arabia). Found in moderate rainfall areas and urban environments. The Crete population appears to be introduced, as it was only found in urban areas ^[5][1].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is not documented in scientific literature. No data available on queen number or colony social structure.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, no direct measurements exist for this species
  • Worker: Size data unavailable, no direct measurements exist for this species
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data in scientific literature
  • Growth: Unknown, no species-specific growth data available
  • Development: Unknown, no direct species-specific data available (Development time has not been studied for this species)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 22-26°C as a starting range. This species shows high adaptability to different climates in the wild, from humid northern Iran to drier central regions ^[6]. A gentle temperature gradient allows ants to self-regulate.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity preferred. In the wild they inhabit areas with moderate rainfall, but also tolerate drier conditions ^[1]. Keep nest substrate lightly moist but allow some drying between waterings.
  • Diapause: Likely requires a winter rest period given their Palearctic distribution. Reduce temperature to 10-15°C for 2-3 months during winter months ^[2].
  • Nesting: Natural nesting occurs on the ground in soil. In captivity, standard test tubes work well for founding colonies. For established colonies, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest with moderate moisture retention suits their needs.
• Behavior: Workers are active foragers that actively tend aphid colonies for honeydew ^[3][4]. Based on typical genus behavior, they are moderately aggressive when defending their territory but not particularly large or dangerous. They have a functional stinger but are too small to cause meaningful pain to humans. Escape risk is moderate, standard barrier methods are sufficient. They are ground-nesting and likely create shallow underground chambers.
• Common Issues: colonies may fail if kept too cold during winter, proper diapause at reduced temperatures is essential, overwatering can lead to mold issues in nest setups, allow substrate to dry partially between waterings, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites that can devastate captive colonies, their small size means they can escape through standard barrier setups if not careful

Natural History and Distribution

Lepisiota dolabellae originates from Turkey, which is its type locality ^[1]. From there, its range extends east through Iran, south to Israel and Saudi Arabia, and west to Greece (Crete) ^[7][4]. The species demonstrates remarkable ecological flexibility, being found in northern Iran with very humid climate and dense vegetation, in central Iran with drier conditions, and in moderate Mediterranean climates like Crete ^[6]. In central Iran, this species is one of the dominant ant species, collected at 12 different sites with varying climates and vegetation covers, and it was the top contributing species in community analysis ^[6]. The Crete population is particularly interesting because it was only found in urban areas, suggesting it may have been accidentally introduced by human activity rather than natural dispersal ^[5].

Appearance and Identification

Workers of Lepisiota dolabellae have a distinctive bicolored appearance that helps distinguish them from other ants. The head, petiole (the narrow waist segment), and gaster (the abdomen) are dark brown, while the mesosoma (the middle body section including the thorax) is reddish in color ^[2]. The mesonotum (top of the middle thorax) is characteristically rectangular when viewed from above, which is a useful identification feature. The propodeal spines (spines on the rear of the mesosoma) and petiolar spines are both blunt, not sharp or pointed ^[2]. Exact body size measurements are not available in scientific literature.

Feeding and Diet

In the wild, Lepisiota dolabellae shows a strong association with aphids, which they tend for honeydew. They have been documented tending three aphid species: Acyrthosiphon pisum (the pea aphid), Brachycaudus tragopogonis, and Cinara sp. ^[3][4]. This places them in the tribe Plagiolepidini, which has the maximum number of associations with aphids among all ant subfamilies (66.84% of all aphid-ant mutualistic relationships) ^[3]. For captive care, offer sugar water or honey as a constant energy source, and provide protein through small insects like fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or mealworms. Their aphid-tending behavior suggests they will readily accept sugar sources. Feed protein 2-3 times per week and keep a sugar source available at all times.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Given their broad distribution across the Palearctic region from Turkey to Iran, these ants experience seasonal temperature variations in the wild. They are found in areas with moderate rainfall in Iran and have been collected in various climates from very humid northern regions to drier central areas ^[1][6]. For captive care, maintain temperatures in the 22-26°C range as a baseline. Their adaptability suggests they can tolerate some variation. During winter (roughly November through February in the Northern Hemisphere), reduce temperatures to 10-15°C to provide a proper diapause period. This winter rest is important for colony health and may trigger reproductive behavior in spring. Do not keep them warm year-round as this can stress the colony.

Nesting and Housing

In the wild, Lepisiota dolabellae is a ground-nesting species found on the ground in soil ^[1]. They do not appear to be arboreal or to nest in wood. For captive colonies, standard test tube setups work well for founding queens and small colonies. The test tube should have a water reservoir (filled about 1/3 to 1/2) with a cotton plug creating a water source, and the ants will nest in the dry portion. For larger, established colonies, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster formicarium provides appropriate housing. Keep the nest substrate lightly moist, damp but not waterlogged. They prefer tight, enclosed spaces for their nest chambers. The outworld (foraging area) should be simple with standard escape prevention barriers.

Behavior and Temperament

Workers are active foragers that readily search for food both on the ground and on vegetation, particularly when tending aphids ^[3][4]. They are not among the most aggressive ant species but will defend their nest and food sources if threatened. Their small size means they pose minimal threat to humans, they have a stinger but are too small to penetrate skin meaningfully. They are not known for being particularly escape-prone compared to some tiny ant species, but standard barrier methods like Fluon on container edges or talcum powder barriers are still recommended. Workers are fast-moving and alert, making them interesting to observe. They establish well-defined foraging trails when food sources are discovered.

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