Mycetomoellerius farinosus

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Amazon basin in South America, found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, and Peru. They live in leaf-litter environments of tropical rainforest, including dense ombrophylous forest, open ombrophylous forest, Liana forest, and Plateau forest. They nest in soil or rotting wood on the forest floor ^[5][6][1].
• Colony Type: Single-queen colonies are typical for this genus. The colony starts with a claustral queen who seals herself in a founding chamber to raise her first workers.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: size data unavailable, no specific measurements found in research
  • Worker: size data unavailable, no specific measurements found in research
  • Colony: up to several hundred workers based on related Trachymyrmex species
  • Growth: Moderate, fungus-growing ants grow more slowly than predatory species because they must establish their fungal garden first
  • Development: estimated 8-12 weeks at optimal temperature based on related Attini species (Development is slower than many ants because the colony must first establish a fungal garden. The queen raises the first workers (nanitics) which then take over fungal garden maintenance.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C. These are tropical ants requiring warm, stable temperatures. A heating cable on one side of the nest creates a gentle gradient.
  • Humidity: High humidity is essential, these ants need 70-85% humidity to keep their fungal garden healthy. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mist occasionally and use a water reservoir.
  • Diapause: No, this is a tropical species that does not hibernate. Keep temperatures stable year-round.
  • Nesting: Y-tong (AAC) nests or plaster nests work well. The nest should have chambers sized appropriately for their small size. Provide a connection to an outworld with plant material (leaf fragments, flower pieces) for their fungal garden. Naturalistic setups with soil and rotting wood also work.
• Behavior: These ants are peaceful and not aggressive. Workers are small and slow-moving, spending most of their time tending their fungal garden. They are not escape artists in terms of climbing, but their tiny size means they can slip through small gaps. They are strictly herbivorous (fungus-eating), so they pose no sting threat to humans. Workers emerge to collect plant material to feed their fungus, not for hunting prey.
• Common Issues: fungal garden failure is the most common killer, if the fungus dies, the colony starves. keep humidity high and stable, tiny size means escapes are possible through fine gaps, use tight-fitting lids and fine mesh barriers, temperature drops below 22°C can slow or stop fungal growth, weakening the colony, overfeeding with plant material can cause mold problems in the nest, dry conditions cause the fungal garden to dry out and die quickly

Fungus Farming - The Key to Their Care

Mycetomoellerius farinosus belongs to the tribe Attini, the fungus-growing ants. Unlike other ants that hunt prey or collect seeds, these ants are obligate farmers, they cultivate a fungal garden that serves as their sole food source. The ants feed the fungus with plant material (leaf fragments, flower pieces, grass, or other organic matter), and in return, the fungus produces specialized structures called gongylidia that the ants eat ^[2]. This is the most critical aspect of their care: without a healthy fungal garden, the colony will starve. The queen carries a small piece of fungal inoculum when she founds her colony, using it to start a new garden in her founding chamber. The first workers (nanitics) emerge after several weeks and immediately begin tending the fungus, expanding the garden and foraging for more plant material.

Feeding Your Colony

Feed your colony by providing fresh plant material in the outworld. Small leaf fragments, flower petals, grass clippings, or even small pieces of cardboard work well. Remove any uneaten plant material after 2-3 days to prevent mold. Do NOT feed them protein foods like insects or sugar water, they do not eat these. Their diet is exclusively the gongylidia produced by their fungal garden. The amount of plant material needed depends on the size of the fungal garden, larger colonies consume more. Watch how quickly workers collect the material and adjust accordingly. A well-fed fungal garden will grow visibly, producing more gongylidia to feed the growing worker population.

Nest Setup and Humidity

These ants need high humidity to keep their fungal garden healthy. Y-tong (AAC) nests or plaster nests work well, as they hold moisture better than acrylic. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist, it should feel damp but not have standing water. A water tube or reservoir connected to the nest helps maintain humidity. The nest chambers should be appropriately sized for their small worker size, too large and they may have trouble maintaining the fungal garden. Connect the nest to an outworld where you can provide plant material without disturbing the fungal garden. Avoid frequent disturbances to the nest as this can stress the colony and damage the fungus.

Temperature Requirements

As tropical Amazonian ants, they need warm conditions. Keep the nest at 24-28°C for optimal fungal growth and colony development. A heating cable placed on top of the nest (never under it, as that can dry out the fungus) creates a gentle warmth gradient. Room temperature may be sufficient if your home is naturally warm (above 24°C), but monitor the colony activity. If workers seem sluggish and the fungal garden looks stagnant, try increasing temperature slightly. Temperatures below 22°C can slow fungal growth significantly, which weakens the entire colony. Avoid temperature fluctuations and drafts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References