Paratrechina longicornis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Native range uncertain but likely Southeast Asia or Melanesia ^[2]. Now found throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, from Africa to Asia to the Americas, introduced through human commerce ^[2]. Prefers disturbed areas, urban environments, and can live in heated buildings in temperate climates ^[8].
• Colony Type: Polygynous (multiple queens) with unicolonial structure. Colonies can contain thousands of workers across multiple nests (polydomous). Queens are produced clonally via thelytokous parthenogenesis, while workers result from normal sexual reproduction. Males are produced androgenetically as clones of the queen's mate ^[3][4].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Queen size data unavailable, head length 1.06 mm and mesosoma length 1.92 mm have been reported but total length is not available ^[9].
  • Worker: 2.1-2.5 mm total length ^[1]
  • Colony: Can reach thousands of workers in established colonies, one nest contained 1,092 workers plus brood ^[10].
  • Growth: Fast
  • Development: Approximately 4-6 weeks at warm temperatures (estimated based on related Formicinae species) (Development is rapid in warm conditions, colonies can grow quickly once established, especially with multiple queens.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C. This species has a critical thermal maximum of 44°C but shows peak foraging activity around 24°C and activity declines at higher temperatures ^[11][12]. Provide a gradient if possible, avoid prolonged temperatures below 20°C.
  • Humidity: Provide a humidity gradient with a moist nest area (damp substrate) and a drier foraging zone. Naturally nests in both moist soil under rocks and dry leaf litter ^[13][8]. Do not leave the nest waterlogged, keep the substrate damp but not saturated.
  • Diapause: No true diapause required. As a tropical species, it remains active year‐round in warm conditions. In temperate regions, colonies in heated buildings remain active throughout winter.
  • Nesting: Highly adaptable. In captivity they will accept test tubes, Y‑tong (AAC), plaster nests, or soil nests. They often relocate nests when disturbed, so provide stable, connected chambers. Avoid large open spaces, they prefer narrow cavities. Fine mesh or fluon barriers are essential to prevent escapes ^[14][15].
• Behavior: Workers are extremely fast‐moving with characteristic erratic, ‘crazy’ foraging patterns. They recruit strongly to food sources using short‐lived pheromone trails from the hindgut and Dufour’s gland ^[16][17]. They are excellent cooperative transporters and can solve obstacle navigation problems collectively ^[5][6]. While not aggressive toward humans, they dominate resources and can displace other ant species. They possess an acidopore for chemical defense and use formic acid to detoxify alkaloid venoms ^[7]. Escape prevention is critical due to their small size and speed, use fluon on container edges and fine mesh barriers.
• Common Issues: colonies can fragment and relocate frequently when disturbed, provide stable, secure housing with multiple connected chambers., small size and fast movement make escape prevention critical, use tight‐fitting lids, fluon barriers, and fine mesh., can become a persistent pest in homes if colonies establish in walls, never allow escape., carries pathogenic bacteria in hospital settings, keep colonies away from food preparation areas and maintain good hygiene., invasive species, NEVER release this ant. If you no longer wish to keep the colony, humanely freeze it.

Housing and Setup

Paratrechina longicornis is highly adaptable and will accept various captive setups. Test tube setups work well for founding colonies and small groups, use a water tube with a cotton plug and connect multiple tubes for larger groups. For established colonies, Y‑tong (AAC) blocks, plaster nests, or soil nests provide good humidity control and visibility. Avoid large open chambers, they prefer narrow, interconnected cavities that mimic natural nest sites (cracks in walls, under stones, tree cavities) ^[15][19]. Because they frequently relocate nests when disturbed, ensure all connections are secure and use fluon or PTFE on inner container edges to prevent escapes. A simple setup consists of a test tube nest connected to a foraging arena. They do best at room temperature in the low‐to‐mid 20s Celsius but can tolerate warmer conditions if a gradient is provided.

Feeding and Diet

These ants are generalist omnivores with a strong preference for sugary foods. In captivity, offer sugar water (25% solution), honey, or diluted syrup as a constant carbohydrate source. For protein, they readily accept small insects like fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and mealworm pieces. They show strong preference for liquid bait bases over gels or pastes, sugar water in a cotton ball works excellently ^[20]. They also scavenge on protein baits like tuna, boiled egg, or small pieces of cooked meat. In field experiments they strongly preferred strawberry jam over anchovy powder or egg yolk ^[14]. Feed small amounts daily or every other day, removing uneaten food within 24 hours to prevent mold. Their erratic foraging style means they discover food quickly, but they also use short‐term recruitment pheromones to bring nestmates to large resources ^[6]. A varied diet ensures healthy colony development.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a tropical species, Paratrechina longicornis thrives at warm temperatures around 24-28°C. Their critical thermal maximum is 44°C, but peak foraging activity occurs at about 24°C and activity declines at higher temperatures ^[11]. In most homes, room temperature is suitable. If your space is cooler, use a heating cable on one side of the nest to create a gentle gradient, place it on top of the nest material rather than underneath to avoid excessive drying. No diapause or winter rest is required. In temperate climates, this species survives primarily in heated buildings, so maintain consistent warmth year‐round. They are active foragers and continue functioning in well‐heated spaces throughout winter. Avoid temperatures below 20°C for extended periods. Their tempo is the highest among measured ant species (5.0 body oscillations per second), and they become even more active when disturbed ^[21].

Behavior and Colony Dynamics

This species forms large polygynous colonies with multiple reproductive queens. Colonies are unicolonial, workers from different nests within the same colony do not show aggression toward each other ^[22]. They exhibit fascinating cooperative transport behavior, working together to move large food items and navigate obstacles using a stochastic strategy that adapts to obstacle complexity ^[5][6]. Workers forage individually with fast, erratic movements and recruit nestmates via short‐lived pheromone trails from the hindgut ^[17] and Dufour’s gland ^[16]. The colony may split (budding) when disturbed or as the colony grows, with workers carrying brood to new locations ^[18]. Queens are produced clonally, this unusual reproductive system means all queens in a colony are genetically identical ^[3]. Workers have lifespans of several months, while queens can live for years. When confronted by army ant raids, the entire colony evacuates in a coordinated manner: queens at the center surrounded by brood‐carrying workers, then empty‐handed workers, the ran‘s fast zigzagging motion discourages attackers ^[23].

Legal and Ethical Considerations

CRITICAL: Paratrechina longicornis is listed among the 100 worst invasive species by the IUCN ^[24]. It has been spread worldwide through human commerce and is considered a major ecological, agricultural, and household pest ^[2]. It should NEVER be released outside its current range. If you no longer wish to keep your colony, the most responsible action is to humanely freeze the colony (place in a freezer for 48 hours) rather than release it. This species is also a known vector of pathogenic bacteria in hospital settings, keep colony setups away from food preparation areas and maintain good hygiene ^[25][26]. In some jurisdictions, keeping this species may require permits due to its invasive status. Always check local regulations before acquiring this species. In New Zealand, for example, incursions have been eradicated as part of biosecurity programs ^[27].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References