Temnothorax makora

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Origin & Habitat: Native to Japan, found in Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and the Nansei Islands ^[1][2]. They live in forests and forest margins, nesting in dead twigs on standing trees or fallen twigs on the ground ^[3][1][2].
• Colony Type: Polygynous colonies with multiple queens working together. New foundress queens are commonly adopted into established colonies rather than founding new colonies alone ^[3].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size unknown, queens of Temnothorax are typically about 4-5 mm based on genus patterns.
  • Worker: 2-2.5 mm ^[1][2]
  • Colony: Around 30 workers per colony ^[3]
  • Growth: Slow, they produce only one brood per year in early spring ^[3]
  • Development: Estimated 8-12 weeks, based on typical small myrmicine development at spring temperatures, but unconfirmed for this species (Development is slow due to their single annual brood cycle. This is much slower than many common ant species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature (18-24°C). They come from temperate Japan, so they tolerate cooler conditions. Avoid overheating ^[1].
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity. Their natural twig nests can dry out, so avoid waterlogging. Keep the nest substrate slightly moist but not wet. If using a Y-tong nest, provide a humid area.
  • Diapause: Yes, they produce one brood per year in early spring, which suggests a winter rest period is important ^[3]. Give them a cool resting period of 2-3 months at 5-10°C during winter.
  • Nesting: These tiny ants need small, tight chambers scaled to their 2-3 mm size. They naturally nest in dead twigs with 1.5-3.0 mm caliber ^[3]. Y-tong (AAC) nests with narrow passages work well, or you can provide natural twigs in a naturalistic setup. Avoid large, open spaces.
• Behavior: Peaceful and non-aggressive. Workers are tiny (2-2.5 mm) and timid, not known to sting. They forage individually. Because of their small size, escape prevention is critical, they can squeeze through very small gaps. Use fine mesh on ventilation and tight-fitting lids ^[3].
• Common Issues: tiny size means escapes are likely without fine mesh barriers and very tight-fitting lids, slow growth with only one annual brood means colonies develop very slowly, colonies are small (around 30 workers) so don't expect large populations, as a host for parasitic T. kinomurai, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites that hurt survival ^[4], single annual brood means overfeeding can cause mold problems in the nest, be careful not to leave excess food

Housing and Nest Setup

Temnothorax makora are tiny ants that need appropriately scaled housing. In the wild, they nest in dead twigs with a caliber of 1.5-3.0 mm, both on standing trees and fallen twigs on the ground ^[3]. For captivity, Y-tong (AAC) nests with narrow chambers work well because the tight passages match their natural twig nesting preference. You could also use a naturalistic setup with actual twigs, though this makes observation harder.

The key is providing small, tight spaces, avoid large, open formicarium chambers that would make these tiny ants feel exposed. A test tube setup can work for founding colonies, but make sure the cotton is packed tight enough so these small ants cannot squeeze past it. Escape prevention is critical due to their 2-2.5 mm worker size, use fine mesh on any ventilation and ensure lids fit tightly ^[3].

These ants don't need much space even at maturity since colonies only reach about 30 workers ^[3]. A small nest area of a few centimeters is sufficient for a mature colony.

Feeding and Diet

Like most Temnothorax species, T. makora likely accepts a varied diet of small insects and sugar sources. Their tiny worker size means prey items should be small, fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and small mealworms are appropriate. They are not aggressive hunters given their small size and peaceful nature.

Provide a constant sugar source like sugar water, honey, or diluted honey water. Change these regularly to prevent mold. Feed protein prey once or twice weekly, removing any uneaten prey after 24 hours to prevent mold growth in the nest.

Because colonies are small and grow slowly (only one brood per year), be careful not to overfeed. Excess food decays quickly in their small nests and can cause mold problems that may kill the colony ^[3].

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Temnothorax makora naturally inhabits temperate Japan, so they prefer cooler conditions than many tropical ant species. Keep them at room temperature, ideally around 18-24°C. They can tolerate temperatures toward the cooler end of this range.

These ants have a distinct annual cycle with only one brood per year, produced in early spring ^[3]. This means they benefit from a winter rest period. During winter (roughly November to March in the Northern Hemisphere), reduce temperatures to around 5-10°C and reduce feeding. This simulates their natural seasonal cycle and helps maintain colony health.

After winter, the colony should become active in spring as the queen lays her single annual brood. Be patient, with only one brood per year, growth is very slow compared to most common ant species.

Colony Structure and Reproduction

Temnothorax makora has an unusual colony structure. Colonies are polygynous (multiple queens), especially common in June just after the mating and dispersal season ^[3]. Unlike many ant species where new queens start independent colonies, T. makora queens often return to the mother nest after mating and are adopted into the existing colony ^[3].

This adoption of new foundress queens into established colonies is more dominant in this species than in closely related Leptothorax species ^[3]. The colony size stays small at around 30 workers ^[3]. The high percentage of polygyny and the tendency for new queens to stay in the maternal nest may help reduce the risks of solitary colony founding, which is particularly hazardous for this species ^[3].

Mating happens early in the morning, and sperm is stored in the queen's seminal receptacle (very small, about 0.03 mm in diameter) for later use ^[3]. The species also practices intra-colony inbreeding, with new foundress queens mating with nestmate males ^[3].

Queens have 9 ovarioles while workers have 2 ovarioles ^[5].

Behavior and Temperament

Temnothorax makora is a peaceful, non-aggressive species. Workers are tiny (2-2.5 mm) and go about their business quietly without defending aggressively against threats. They are not known to sting, and their small size means even if they did attempt to bite, it would be barely noticeable to humans.

Foraging is likely done individually rather than in groups, typical of smaller Temnothorax species. They may not show the dramatic recruitment behaviors seen in larger ant species.

The main behavioral concern for keepers is their tiny size. At 2-2.5 mm, these ants can escape through remarkably small gaps. Always use excellent escape prevention, fine mesh on any ventilation holes, tightly fitting lids, and consider barrier methods like fluon on nest edges. A single overlooked gap will result in escaped ants. ^[1][3]

Frequently Asked Questions

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References