Myrmecina pilicornis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, not recommended for any keeper due to total lack of data
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to India, specifically recorded from Maharashtra (Bombay/Mumbai region) ^[3][4]. The habitat is unrecorded, but likely forested or rocky areas typical of the Western Ghats.
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, no colony structure data exists for this species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, no queen specimens have been described or collected.
  • Worker: Unknown, only the male has been described (length 1¼ line ≈ 2.6mm) ^[1]. No worker specimens exist in the literature.
  • Colony: Unknown, no data available.
  • Growth: Unknown, no data available.
  • Development: Unconfirmed, no development data exists for this species. (No reliable estimate can be made.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unknown, no data on thermal preferences. As an Indian species, room temperature (20-24°C) is a starting guess but entirely unverified.
  • Humidity: Unknown, no data on humidity needs. Keep at moderate moisture, avoiding extremes, but this is purely speculative.
  • Diapause: Unknown, no data on seasonal activity. As a tropical species, true hibernation is unlikely, but unknown.
  • Nesting: Unknown, no nesting observations exist. If kept, a soil or Y-tong nest with tiny chambers might work, but this is unverified.
• Behavior: Unknown, no behavioral data exists. Based on the subfamily, likely docile and cryptic, but pure speculation.
• Common Issues: no species-specific care information exists, all advice is guesswork from genus patterns., tiny size (male 2.6mm) suggests workers would be even smaller, making escape prevention critical., the queen and worker castes are unknown, no one has ever documented a colony., extreme rarity in collections means acquiring this species is nearly impossible., any captive attempt risks harming a poorly understood endemic species.

Taxonomic Confusion

Myrmecina pilicornis was originally described from a single male collected in Bombay ^[1]. The original description was brief. Later, Bingham (1903) reclassified it as a species of Tetramorium, casting doubt on its identity ^[2]. It was not until Aswaj et al. (2021) that it was confirmed as a valid Myrmecina species based on modern examination ^[2]. The queen and worker castes remain undescribed, and the species has not been recollected in over a century.

Known Distribution

Recorded only from Maharashtra, India, specifically the Bombay (Mumbai) region ^[3][4]. No other locations have been confirmed ^[5]. Given the lack of modern records, its current status is unclear.

Male Morphology

The only described caste is the male. Total length measured 1¼ line (approximately 2.6mm) ^[1]. The original description by Smith (1858) includes basic morphological notes, and a recent study by Cantone et al. (2024) mentions the male genitalia description ^[6]. No worker or queen measurements exist.

Captive Care - What We Don't Know

There is no record of this species ever being kept in captivity. All aspects of care are speculative: founding behavior, colony size, diet, temperature, humidity, hibernation, and behavior are completely unknown. The best guess is to follow general myrmicine care, but even that is risky. The lack of any worker description means you wouldn't even know what size of prey or nest setup to provide. This species is not suitable for the antkeeping hobby at present.

Defense Mechanism

As a member of the Myrmicinae subfamily and tribe Crematogastrini, Myrmecina pilicornis likely possesses a modified, flattened spatulate stinger used to smear venom onto enemies rather than piercing. This is a general taxonomic trait of the tribe, no species-specific observations exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References