Myrmica quebecensis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Boreal coniferous forests of Quebec, Canada, with records extending into Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Manitoba. Found in aged black spruce forests, peatland forests, and lichen spruce forest ^[3][4][1][5].
• Colony Type: Workerless permanent social parasite, requires host colony Myrmica alaskensis. Colonies contain multiple parasite queens and males, supported entirely by host workers ^[3][4].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, no specific measurements exist. Estimated at ~4-5mm based on related Myrmica parasites.
  • Worker: N/A, workerless species produces no workers
  • Colony: Small colonies with multiple queens and males within host nest
  • Growth: Slow, single annual brood cycle
  • Development: N/A, no workers produced. Eggs laid in summer, larvae overwinter, adults emerge the following July ^[4]. (Parasite has a single annual laying period instead of two, consistent with the absence of workers)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep host colony at typical Myrmica temperatures: 15-22°C. No specific data for this parasite.
  • Humidity: High humidity preferred, boreal forest species. Keep nest substrate moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: Yes, larvae overwinter in host colony, resuming development the following year ^[4].
  • Nesting: Cannot be maintained independently. Requires established Myrmica alaskensis colony as host.
• Behavior: Extremely specialized. Queens and males are entirely dependent on host workers for survival, brood care, and food. Mating occurs within the nest or on the surface, no nuptial flight. Host workers care for parasite brood by licking and moving them around ^[4].
• Common Issues: This species cannot be kept without a host colony, it has no workers to survive, Introducing parasite queens to host colonies typically fails, they are killed within 24 hours ^[4], Very limited distribution makes collection difficult, Vulnerable status on IUCN Red List, ethical concerns about collection, Even if successfully introduced, the parasite may not establish long-term, This species should NOT be collected or kept, it is protected as vulnerable and cannot survive without its host

Why This Species Is Different

Myrmica quebecensis is what scientists call a 'workerless permanent social parasite', an inquiline. Unlike almost every ant species you could keep, this one has NO workers of its own. The colony consists only of queens (which are wingless, called ergatoids) and males. Every aspect of their lives depends on the host species, Myrmica alaskensis. The host workers do everything: forage for food, care for the brood, maintain the nest, and even feed the parasite queens. This makes M. quebecensis fundamentally different from any typical ant species and presents unique challenges for anyone interested in keeping it. The species is also rare and ranked as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List ^[1][2]. It is one of only two known workerless Myrmica species in Quebec that do not produce workers ^[6].

The Host Relationship

This parasite specifically targets Myrmica alaskensis, its entire survival depends on this one host species. In the wild, researchers always find M. quebecensis queens and males inside host colonies, surrounded by host workers and large larvae. The host colonies are typically polygynous (have multiple queens), which may help the parasite establish. The parasite queens are distinct enough from host workers that they're easily spotted when inside the nest. Interestingly, the host workers care for the parasite brood just like their own, licking them and moving them around. The parasite larvae develop normally, suggesting they've evolved to manipulate the host's care behavior ^[4].

Can You Keep This Species?

The short answer is: this is extremely difficult and not recommended. Unlike typical ants where you collect a queen and raise a colony, M. quebecensis cannot survive without a host. You'd need to first establish a healthy Myrmica alaskensis colony, then somehow introduce the parasite, and research shows this rarely works. Dr. Alfred Buschinger tried six times to introduce M. quebecensis queens into normal M. alaskensis colonies (with queen, workers, and brood), and all six parasites were killed within 24 hours. One attempt to introduce them to workers without a queen also failed. Additionally, the species is protected as vulnerable, so collection raises ethical concerns. For all these reasons, this is a species best appreciated in the wild or studied through research rather than kept in captivity ^[4][1].

Breeding and Reproduction

What we know about their reproduction comes from lab observations. The parasite produces only queens and males, no workers. In the lab, sub-colonies with the parasite produced only males and females of M. quebecensis, with a female-biased sex ratio (only 7 males out of 45 individuals). The timing is synchronized with the host: parasite larvae are large in early summer, having overwintered as larvae and resumed development. Adults emerge during the first two weeks of July. Then the parasite queens begin laying eggs, this single annual laying period differs from the host species which typically has two laying periods. This makes sense because without workers, the parasite relies entirely on host care. Mating happens inside the nest or on the surface, there's no nuptial flight since the queens are wingless ^[4].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References