Temnothorax bejaraniensis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to the Sierra Morena mountains in Córdoba, southern Spain (Iberian Peninsula). It lives exclusively in dense Mediterranean forest with high tree and shrub cover, where the ground is covered in leaf litter and plant debris ^[1][2][3].
• Colony Type: Single-queen colonies (monogyne), this is inferred from field observations that each nest had one queen. Queens are ergatoid (born without wings), so new queens develop inside the nest and can replace the original queen if she dies ^[1]. Colonies can nest very close together, in one case two nests were found just 40 cm apart ^[1][2].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Larger than workers, but exact measurements are not available ^[1]
  • Worker: ~0.48-0.51 mm (based on total length measurements from the type description) ^[1][2]
  • Colony: Likely under 100 workers, inferred from the small nest chamber size (8-10 cm deep) and typical patterns for Temnothorax ^[1]
  • Growth: Moderate (inferred from related Temnothorax species)
  • Development: 6-10 weeks (estimated from typical Temnothorax development, no specific data for this species) (Development speed depends on temperature. Warmer conditions within their safe range may speed things up, but avoid overheating.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature, around 18-22 °C. This species comes from shaded forest floors in southern Spain, so avoid heat. Exact needs are unstudied, so start at mild room temperature and observe your colony ^[1][2].
  • Humidity: Moderate to high. These ants live in leaf litter, so the substrate must stay damp but not waterlogged. Provide a humidity gradient: keep the nest area moist and let part of the outworld dry out so the ants can regulate ^[1][2].
  • Diapause: Likely yes, a winter rest period of 2-3 months at around 10-15 °C is probably needed. This matches the natural cooling of their Mediterranean home and the pattern seen in other European Temnothorax ^[4].
  • Nesting: This species nests in bare soil 8-10 cm deep, often against tree roots or at the base of trunks. They do NOT use stones ^[1][2]. In captivity, give them a deep soil layer (at least 10 cm) or a plaster nest with moist soil. Y-tong (AAC) blocks or 3D-printed nests with a soil chamber also work. Avoid stone-based setups.
• Behavior: These are tiny, docile ants. Workers spend most of their time moving through leaf litter and the soil. They do not bite or sting in a way that bothers humans, but they have a modified stinger used to smear venom, not to pierce skin. Escape prevention is critical: at just 0.5 mm, they can squeeze through the smallest gaps. Use tight lids, fine mesh, and fluon or barrier tape ^[1][2].
• Common Issues: escape is the biggest risk, their tiny size means they can get through any gap bigger than 0.3 mm, substrate drying out will kill the colony quickly, check moisture daily, overheating, they need shade and cool conditions, never direct sunlight or heat mats, stress from improper setup, they have specific soil nesting needs that take time to replicate, hard to find and acquire, the species is rare in the hobby and protected in the wild

Housing and Nest Setup

Temnothorax bejaraniensis needs a setup that copies their natural soil-nesting habit. In the wild, they dig 8-10 cm deep in bare soil, often near tree roots or at the base of trunks, and they never use stones ^[1][2]. For captivity, give them at least 10 cm of moist soil in a container. You can also use a plaster nest with a soil chamber, or a Y-tong (AAC) block with a deep soil area. The substrate must stay damp but not soaked. Because these ants are so tiny, you must seal every gap. Use fluon or PTFE barrier tape on the rims of the formicarium, and make sure the lid fits tightly ^[1].

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep your colony at room temperature, roughly 18-22 °C. They come from shaded Mediterranean forest floors with mild temperatures, so avoid heat ^[1][2]. Do not use heat mats or place the nest in direct sunlight. For winter, give them a diapause (rest) period of 2-3 months at around 10-15 °C. This mimics the natural seasonal cooling and keeps their biological rhythms normal. Move them to an unheated room, garage, or cellar during the coldest months ^[4].

Feeding and Diet

Like most Temnothorax, these ants eat a mix of sugars and proteins. Offer diluted honey water (1 part honey to 4 parts water) or sugar water regularly. For protein, give them tiny prey such as fruit flies (Drosophila), springtails, or small pieces of insect. Because of their small size, prey must be appropriately tiny. Feed every 2-3 days and remove uneaten food to stop mold. A varied diet keeps the colony healthy ^[4].

Colony Establishment and Growth

This species was only described in 2013 ^[1][2]. Queens are ergatoid (born without wings), so they cannot fly to new nest sites. How they start new colonies is unknown, claustral founding has not been confirmed. Initial colony growth is likely slow, as with most small ants. From egg to first worker probably takes 6-10 weeks, based on related Temnothorax species. Colonies probably stay under 100 workers in captivity. The species is hard to find in the wild because workers are tiny, move through leaf litter, and nest in soil without using stones ^[5].

Behavior and Temperament

Temnothorax bejaraniensis is a docile, non‑aggressive ant. Workers are small and move slowly through the substrate. Like other Myrmicinae in the tribe Crematogastrini, they have a modified, flattened stinger used to smear venom onto enemies rather than pierce them, this is a chemical defense, not a threat to humans. The main concern for keepers is escape. At only 0.5 mm long, they can slip through any gap you wouldn't even notice. Use tight lids, fine mesh, and fluon or barrier tape on all climbing surfaces ^[1][2].

Finding and Acquiring

This species is extremely rare in the antkeeping hobby and has a very limited natural range, only known from the Sierra Morena mountains in Córdoba, Spain ^[1][2][5]. It is difficult to observe in the wild because workers are small, move through leaf litter, and nest in soil without using stones ^[5]. Researchers find them by sieving leaf litter and using Berlese funnels ^[1][2]. If you manage to get a colony, it will likely come from a specialized European antkeeper or researcher. Do not collect from the wild in Spain, the species is recently described and apparently rare, and wild collecting could harm the populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References