Scientific illustration of Temnothorax ariadnae ant - showing key identification features including head, thorax, and gaster.

Temnothorax ariadnae

Monogynous Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Temnothorax ariadnae
Tribe
Crematogastrini
Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Author
Csősz <i>et al.</i>, 2015
Distribution
Found in 1 countries
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Introduction

Temnothorax ariadnae is a tiny ant species endemic to the island of Crete, Greece. Workers are about 2-3mm long (inferred from genus patterns) and have a brown to yellow body with completely yellow antennae. Their head has a rough, rugoso-reticulate pattern. This species belongs to the Temnothorax nylanderi group and is named after the Cretan princess Ariadne . These ants are active during the day (diurnal) and form colonies with a single queen . They live in deciduous oak forests, nesting under stones or in leaf litter in shady, humid spots near streams .

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Status by country, from Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Native Invasive Introduced (indoor) Intercepted Unknown
Data Sources
Year Range 2000 - 2026

Quick Summary

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Crete, Greece, found in shady, humid deciduous oak forests near streams, nesting under stones or in leaf litter [2][3]
  • Colony Type: Monogyne, single-queen colonies [2][3]
  • Size & Growth:
    • Queen: ~4-5mm (inferred from Temnothorax genus patterns)
    • Worker: ~2-3mm (inferred from Temnothorax genus, no total length measurements available from research)
    • Colony: Not explicitly documented, based on genus patterns, likely up to a few hundred workers
    • Growth: Moderate
    • Development: 6-10 weeks at room temperature (estimated from related Temnothorax species) (Development time is an estimate from genus-level data for Mediterranean Temnothorax)
  • Antkeeping:
    • Temperature: Keep at 20-26°C during the active season. They prefer warm Mediterranean conditions but avoid extremes. Room temperature is usually fine [2].
    • Humidity: High humidity, keep nest substrate moist but not waterlogged. Their natural habitat is near streams in humid soil [2][3].
    • Diapause: Likely beneficial, as a Mediterranean species, a mild winter rest at 10-15°C for 2-3 months mimics natural conditions. This is not fully documented but follows general patterns for the region.
    • Nesting: In the wild they nest under stones or in leaf litter. In captivity, a test tube setup or small Y-tong nest with tight chambers works well. They prefer small, snug spaces [2].
  • Behavior: Peaceful and non-aggressive. They are active during the day and rarely sting. Due to their tiny size (2-3mm), escape prevention is critical, use fine mesh (0.5mm or smaller) on all openings. They forage for honeydew and small insects. Their primary defense is smearing venom rather than stinging (typical of their tribe Crematogastrini).
  • Common Issues: escape prevention is essential, they are tiny and can fit through gaps you might not notice, colonies grow slowly and stay small, patience is required, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites (mites, fungi) that can kill them, overheating (above 30°C) or direct sunlight can be fatal, dry conditions cause rapid death, maintain consistent moisture

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References

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This caresheet is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 .