Myopias sonthichaiae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Origin & Habitat: Highland forest plantation, hill evergreen and dry evergreen forests in Chiang Mai and Tak Provinces, Thailand (1,000-1,780m elevation) ^[1]
• Colony Type: Colony structure unconfirmed, single-queen colonies are typical for the genus but specific data for this species is lacking
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: 11.12mm ^[1]
  • Worker: 6.5-7.0mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data available
  • Growth: Unknown, estimated moderate based on Ponerine patterns
  • Development: Estimated 6-10 weeks based on typical Ponerinae development at warm temperatures (No direct development data exists for this species, estimates based on related Ponerine ants)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 22-26°C, their highland Thai habitat suggests they prefer cooler conditions than typical tropical ants. A temperature gradient allows them to self-regulate.
  • Humidity: Moderate to high (60-80%), forest floor conditions. Keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged, with some drier areas available.
  • Diapause: Unconfirmed, highland origin suggests they may tolerate or benefit from a cool period, but specific requirements are unknown
  • Nesting: Naturalistic setup with rotten wood pieces or a Y-tong/plaster nest works well. They naturally nest in advanced-stage rotting wood, provide decaying wood material or a nest that allows them to create chambers in damp substrate.
• Behavior: Ponerine ants are typically predatory and defensive. Workers are likely to be active foragers that hunt small invertebrates. They possess a functional sting and will use it if threatened. Their large eyes suggest active, visually-oriented hunting behavior. Escape prevention should be good, they're a moderately sized ant but not particularly known for climbing smooth surfaces.
• Common Issues: limited availability, this is a recently described species rarely available in the antkeeping hobby, lack of captive husbandry data means care is largely inferential from genus behavior, predatory diet requirements may be challenging to meet consistently, highland origin means temperature management is critical, avoid overheating, wild-caught colonies may struggle to adapt to captive conditions

Nest Preferences and Housing

Myopias sonthichaiae naturally nests in rotten wood at an advanced stage of decomposition, found at elevations between 1,000-1,780 meters in Thai highland forests ^[1]. In captivity, a naturalistic setup with decaying wood pieces works best, you can collect aged, soft wood from hardwood trees and allow it to partially decompose before introducing the colony. Alternatively, a Y-tong (AAC) or plaster nest with damp substrate provides good moisture retention. The key is maintaining consistently moist (but not wet) conditions that mimic the damp forest floor. Avoid dry, airy setups, these ants come from humid highland environments. A small water reservoir connected to the nest helps maintain humidity over time.

Feeding and Diet

As a Ponerine ant, Myopias sonthichaiae is likely primarily predatory, hunting small invertebrates in nature. Based on typical genus behavior, offer small live prey such as fruit flies, small crickets, mealworms, and other appropriately-sized insects. They likely accept protein-rich foods readily. Sugar sources may be accepted but are not a primary dietary component for Ponerines, you can offer occasional honey or sugar water, but protein should form the bulk of their diet. Feed every 2-3 days, adjusting based on colony size and consumption. Remove uneaten prey after 24-48 hours to prevent mold issues.

Temperature and Environmental Control

This species comes from highland Thailand, meaning they prefer cooler temperatures than typical tropical ants. Aim for 22-26°C in the nest area, with a slight gradient if possible. Avoid temperatures above 28°C, their highland origin means they are not adapted to extreme heat. Room temperature within this range is often suitable. If your environment runs cool, a heating cable on one side of the nest (placed on top, not underneath, to avoid drying) can provide gentle warmth. Monitor colony behavior, if workers cluster in cooler areas, reduce heating. The highland origin also suggests they may tolerate brief cool periods, but avoid cold shocks. ^[1]

Behavior and Temperament

Ponerine ants are known for their defensive nature and well-developed stings. Myopias sonthichaiae possesses a sharp, upcurved sting ^[1] and will use it if the colony feels threatened. They are likely active foragers that hunt during the day. Their relatively large eyes suggest they may rely partially on visual cues when hunting. Workers are moderately sized (6.5-7mm) and relatively robust. While not aggressive by default, disturbing the nest will result in defensive behavior. Handle with care and provide minimal disturbance during the founding stage. They are not escape artists like tiny ants, but standard escape prevention (fluon on rim edges) is still recommended.

Colony Founding and Development

Direct observation of colony founding for this species does not exist in scientific literature. Based on typical Ponerinae patterns, the queen likely seals herself in a chamber (claustral founding) and raises her first workers alone using stored fat reserves. The founding chamber should be kept dark and undisturbed. First workers (nanitics) will typically be smaller than mature workers. Development from egg to worker likely takes 6-10 weeks at optimal warm temperatures (around 24-26°C), though this is an estimate based on related species. Colony growth will be gradual, Ponerine colonies typically remain small (under a few hundred workers) even at maturity.

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