Tetramorium bessonii

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Origin & Habitat: Madagascar, arid environments including grasslands, spiny forests, thickets, and tropical dry forests. Commonly found in anthropogenically modified habitats and on the High Plateau around Antananarivo and Moramanga ^[1][2].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Based on typical Tetramorium genus patterns, likely single-queen (monogyne) colonies, but this has not been directly documented for this species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable
  • Worker: Size data unavailable (head length documented but not total body length) ^[1]
  • Colony: Estimated several hundred workers based on similar Tetramorium species
  • Growth: Moderate, estimated
  • Development: Estimated 6-10 weeks based on typical Tetramorium development (Development time is not directly documented for this species. Estimates based on related Tetramorium species suggest 6-10 weeks at optimal temperature.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 22-26°C, reflecting their natural warm arid habitat ^[1]. A heating cable on one side of the nest can create a temperature gradient. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 18°C.
  • Humidity: Provide moderate to low humidity. Keep the nest substrate slightly moist but allow partial drying between waterings. Avoid constant dampness, they come from arid environments ^[1].
  • Diapause: Unconfirmed. Madagascar has mild winters, they likely do not require a true hibernation period but may reduce activity during cooler months.
  • Nesting: Ground-nesting species that builds nests directly in soil or under rocks ^[1]. In captivity, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest works well. Provide a layer of moist soil or sand as substrate. The chambers should be scaled to their small size, tight spaces work better than large open areas.
• Behavior: These are small, ground-dwelling ants that forage on the substrate surface. They use a modified, flattened stinger to smear venom onto enemies (smear defense). Generally not aggressive and will flee rather than fight. Escape prevention is critical due to their tiny size, use fine mesh barriers and tight-fitting lids. Workers are modest foragers, collecting seeds, small insects, and honeydew.
• Common Issues: escape prevention critical due to very small size, they can squeeze through tiny gaps., slow colony growth may cause beginners to lose patience and overfeed., wild-caught colonies may carry parasites., overly humid conditions can be harmful, these are arid-environment ants., test tube setups may dry out too quickly, monitor moisture levels regularly.

Temperature and Care

Keep your Tetramorium bessonii colony at 22-26°C. These ants come from Madagascar's warm, arid environments ^[1], so they handle heat better than cold. Use a heating cable on one side of the nest to create a temperature gradient, allowing workers to regulate their own temperature. Avoid temperatures below 18°C for extended periods. Room temperature within this range works well for established colonies.

Humidity and Water

These ants prefer moderate to low humidity levels. Keep the nest substrate slightly moist but allow it to partially dry between waterings. The substrate should feel damp but not waterlogged. In their natural arid habitat ^[1], they experience seasonal dry periods, so they can handle some dryness better than constant dampness. Provide a water source (e.g., water tube) in the outworld. Monitor condensation, if it pools constantly, reduce watering.

Feeding and Diet

Tetramorium bessonii is an omnivorous species. Offer a varied diet including small protein sources like fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and mealworm pieces. They also accept sweet liquids like sugar water or honey. In the wild they forage for small insects and likely collect honeydew from aphids. Feed protein twice weekly and keep a constant sugar source available. Remove uneaten food after 24-48 hours to prevent mold.

Nest Setup

This ground-nesting species does well in Y-tong (AAC) nests or plaster formicariums ^[1]. Provide a substrate layer of moist soil or sand (about 1-2cm deep) in the nest chamber or outworld. The chambers should be scaled to their tiny worker size, tight passages work better than open spaces. Include darker areas for the colony to retreat to. A small outworld connected to the nest allows for feeding space.

Escape Prevention

Escape prevention is critical with this species. Workers are very small, meaning they can squeeze through gaps that seem impossible. Use fine mesh (at least 0.5mm) on all ventilation holes. Apply Fluon or similar barrier products to the rim of the nest. Check all connections between the nest and outworld regularly. Even a tiny gap is an escape route ^[1].

Colony Development

Colony growth is moderate. The first workers (nanitics) will be smaller than mature workers and may take 6-10 weeks to emerge from egg at optimal temperature. After the first workers arrive, the colony should grow steadily as the queen continues laying eggs. A healthy mature colony may reach several hundred workers. Growth speed depends on temperature, feeding frequency, and colony health. Be patient, small Tetramorium species grow more slowly than larger ants.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References