Solenopsis crivellarii

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Karpathos Island in the Dodecanese region of Greece. Found in deciduous forests and humid montane meadows, typically nesting under rocks overgrown with grass or herbs ^[3][2].
• Colony Type: Monogyne, single queen colonies. Colonies have only one reproductive queen per nest ^[3].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, noted as having 'small gynes' ^[2], queens likely measure around 4-6mm (estimated from related Solenopsis).
  • Worker: Size data unavailable, based on genus, workers are estimated at 2-4mm.
  • Colony: Unconfirmed, likely moderate for a Mediterranean Solenopsis, probably up to a few hundred workers at maturity (inferred).
  • Growth: Moderate (inferred from related species).
  • Development: Unconfirmed, likely 5-8 weeks at optimal temperatures (inferred from genus). (Direct observations for this species are lacking.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unconfirmed. Based on their Mediterranean habitat ^[3], aim for 24-28°C with a slight gradient. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 18°C. For diapause, gradually reduce to 10-15°C for 2-3 months (inferred).
  • Humidity: Moderate to high. They come from humid montane meadows ^[3]. Keep the nest substrate damp but not waterlogged, with some drier areas.
  • Diapause: Likely yes, as a temperate Mediterranean species, a winter rest period is probably beneficial. Duration and exact temperature unconfirmed, but 2-3 months at 10-15°C is a reasonable estimate (inferred).
  • Nesting: They nest under rocks in nature ^[3]. A naturalistic setup with flat stones over moist soil or a Y-tong/plaster nest with narrow, enclosed chambers works well.
• Behavior: These are small, active ants with typical Solenopsis foraging behavior. Workers are aggressive for their size and possess a functional stinger that delivers a painful sting (subfamily defense). Escape risk is high due to their small size, use fine mesh barriers (0.5mm). They often nest near Camponotus colonies in the wild ^[3], but this association does not need to be replicated in captivity.
• Common Issues: small size makes escape likely without fine mesh barriers, sting is painful, avoid handling without protection, humidity control is critical, too dry can cause colony decline, winter diapause requirements are poorly understood for this species, taxonomic uncertainty means wild-caught colonies may include similar species requiring expert identification

Temperature and Care

Based on their natural habitat in humid montane meadows of Greece ^[3], Solenopsis crivellarii likely prefers warm, stable temperatures around 24-28°C during the active season. Provide a temperature gradient using a heat mat on one side of the nest so the ants can self-regulate. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 18°C. During winter, a diapause period is recommended, though specific requirements are unknown. Gradually lower temperatures to around 10-15°C for 2-3 months (inferred from temperate species). Do not feed during diapause but keep the nest slightly damp.

Nesting Preferences

In the wild, Solenopsis crivellarii nests beneath rocks overgrown with grass or herbs in humid montane meadows and deciduous forest edges ^[3]. They prefer tight, enclosed spaces that maintain humidity. The species is often found near Camponotus nests ^[3], though the nature of this association is unclear. For captive care, a naturalistic setup with flat stones over moist soil or a Y-tong/plaster nest with narrow chambers works well. Ensure chambers are appropriately scaled for their tiny workers.

Feeding and Diet

Like other Solenopsis species, Solenopsis crivellarii is omnivorous with a preference for protein. Offer small live prey such as fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and small mealworms. They also accept sugar sources like honey water or sugar water occasionally. Feed small amounts 2-3 times per week, removing uneaten food after 24 hours. Their small size means prey should be appropriately sized, larger items may be ignored.

Behavior and Temperament

Solenopsis crivellarii has typical fire ant temperament, workers are aggressive for their size and readily defend the colony. They possess a functional stinger and can deliver a painful sting. Handle with care. Workers are active foragers and use recruitment to exploit food sources. Their small size makes escape prevention critical, use fine mesh (0.5mm) on all openings. The species shows a notable ecological association with Camponotus nests in the wild ^[3].

Colony Founding and Growth

The founding method for Solenopsis crivellarii is not documented. Colonies are monogynous, with a single queen ^[3]. Growth rate is likely moderate, typical for Mediterranean Solenopsis (inferred). Colony size probably reaches up to a few hundred workers at maturity (inferred). Note that taxonomic uncertainty exists in this group ^[2], wild-caught colonies may require expert identification.

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