Crematogaster tanakai

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Borneo, known only from Lambir National Park in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. In the wild, they nest within epiphyte plants (Platycerium sp., a staghorn fern), often alongside Crematogaster difformis ^[1][2][3].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed colony structure, no documented information on queen number or colony organization for this species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, no described queen in scientific literature
  • Worker: Approximately 3-4mm, inferred from typical Crematogaster worker size range
  • Colony: Unknown, no documented colony size data exists for this species
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unconfirmed, no development data exists for this species (No direct development data exists for this species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unconfirmed, likely requires warm tropical conditions given Borneo origin. Observe colony activity to determine optimal range.
  • Humidity: Unconfirmed, likely requires high humidity given epiphytic rainforest habitat. Keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: Unlikely, as a tropical species from Borneo near the equator, they probably do not require diapause. Maintain consistent temperatures year-round.
  • Nesting: In nature, they nest within epiphyte plants (Platycerium sp.). In captivity, provide a naturalistic setup with plant material or a well-humidified nest. They prefer elevated nesting sites rather than ground nests.
• Behavior: Crematogaster ants are known for their defensive behavior, they can raise their abdomen over their head like an acrobat, giving them the common name 'acrobat ants'. They possess a functional stinger and will use it defensively. They are arboreal, nesting in elevated locations in the wild. Workers are small but active foragers. Based on close association with C. difformis in the wild, they may show similar social behavior ^[2].
• Common Issues: no captive husbandry information exists for this species, no established care protocols, epiphytic nesting requirements may be difficult to replicate in captivity, wild-caught colonies may have specialized symbiotic relationships that cannot be maintained, lack of documented diet preferences means experimental feeding may be necessary, this species is extremely rare in the antkeeping hobby

Species Identification and Unique Traits

Crematogaster tanakai is easily distinguished from other Asian Crematogaster by its uniquely swollen dorsal median portion of the head. Workers lack propodeal spines, which is typical for the C. difformis-subgroup. Their coloration features a reddish head with brown mesosoma and gaster. The sculpturing pattern includes reticulate rugulae on the clypeus, pronotum, and propodeum. They have sparse standing hairs on the head and abundant hairs on the promesonotum. This species was described in 2009 by Hosoishi and Ogata as part of a taxonomic revision of the Asian subgenus Physocrema ^[1].

Distribution and Natural Habitat

This species is endemic to Borneo, known only from Lambir National Park in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. The type locality is at Lambir Hills National Park, where specimens were collected in September 2005. They are found in the Indomalaya region, specifically in Bornean rainforests. What makes this species particularly interesting is its ecological association, they have been collected nesting within epiphyte plants (Platycerium sp., a staghorn fern) in the same nests as Crematogaster difformis. This suggests they may have a close ecological relationship with C. difformis, possibly even sharing nests. The species diverged from C. difformis around 1 million years ago, indicating they are still closely related evolutionarily ^[1][2][3].

Taxonomy and Evolutionary Relationships

Crematogaster tanakai belongs to the C. difformis-subgroup within the C. inflata-group. This placement was confirmed through multilocus phylogenetic analysis. The species was described in 2009 by Hosoishi and Ogata as part of a taxonomic revision of the Asian subgenus Physocrema. The subgenus Physocrema is characterized by certain morphological features including the lack of propodeal spines and specific sculpturing patterns. The estimated divergence time of 1 million years indicates this is a recently evolved species ^[1][2].

Housing and Nesting in Captivity

Since this is an epiphytic species that naturally nests in plants like Platycerium ferns, replicating their natural nesting environment will likely be important for captive success. They should be provided with a humid, naturalistic setup, possibly a setup that includes plant material or cork bark arrangements that mimic their epiphytic habitat. Standard test tubes may not be ideal given their natural arboreal nesting preferences. Acrylic or plaster nests with high humidity capabilities would be more appropriate. The nest should be kept warm and humid. Given their Borneo origin, they likely need consistently warm, humid conditions year-round without any cooling or drying periods. The outworld should include climbing structures and plant material to encourage natural behaviors.

Feeding and Diet

No specific dietary studies exist for Crematogaster tanakai. However, based on typical Crematogaster behavior and their position in the difformis-subgroup, they likely have a varied diet similar to other Crematogaster species. They probably consume honeydew from aphids and scale insects, as well as small insects for protein. In captivity, offer sugar water or honey as an energy source, along with small insects like fruit flies or pinhead crickets. As an arboreal species, they may be more active foragers and may accept a wider variety of foods. Feed protein sources regularly and provide constant access to sugar water.

Behavior and Temperament

Crematogaster ants are known for their distinctive defensive behavior, they can raise their abdomen over their head and thorax, giving them the common name 'acrobat ants'. They possess a functional stinger and will use it defensively when threatened. As an arboreal species from Borneo, they are likely active foragers that search for food both in the nest area and throughout their territory. They may show aggressive territorial behavior. The association with C. difformis in the wild suggests they may have social interactions with that species, though the exact nature of this relationship is not documented.

Frequently Asked Questions

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