Myrmicocrypta spinosa

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Native to the Neotropical region, specifically documented in Guyana and Colombia (Caquetá). In the wild, these ants nest inside cavities of rotten logs, typically in abandoned galleries created by wood-boring beetles ^[1]. This wood-nesting behavior is a derived trait within the genus, having evolved once in the common ancestor of M. spinosa and a closely related undescribed species ^[4].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Like other Attini, they likely form single-queen colonies, but this has not been directly documented.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: size data unavailable
  • Worker: size data unavailable
  • Colony: Unknown, colony size has not been studied
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, no development data available for this species (Based on related palaeoattine species, expect development to take several months at optimal temperature. No specific timeline has been documented.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep warm and stable, Neotropical fungus-farming ants typically thrive in low-to-mid 20s°C. Use a heating cable on one side of the nest to create a gentle gradient. Avoid temperatures below 20°C or above 30°C.
  • Humidity: High humidity is essential, these ants come from damp forest environments within rotten logs. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. The fungus garden requires stable humidity to thrive.
  • Diapause: Unknown, no documented overwintering requirement. As a Neotropical species, they likely do not require true hibernation but may slow down during cooler periods.
  • Nesting: This species requires a naturalistic setup with rotten wood or a wooden formicarium. They will not do well in standard test tubes or acrylic nests. Provide cavities similar to their natural rotten-log nesting sites. A wooden formicarium with pre-drilled chambers or a piece of rotten wood with inserted glass tubes works well.
• Behavior: Very few documented observations on behavior. As a fungus-farming ant, they cultivate a fungal garden for food rather than foraging for insects or honeydew. They are likely docile and non-aggressive, similar to other Attini. Escape risk is moderate, they are small but not particularly fast or agile. However, their specific nesting requirements make them challenging to contain in standard setups.
• Common Issues: colony structure is unconfirmed, making queen numbers and colony dynamics uncertain, lack of development data makes it difficult to assess if the colony is progressing normally, the specialized wood-nesting requirement limits housing options and increases difficulty, fungus garden maintenance is complex, the cultivar can die if conditions are wrong, very limited availability in the antkeeping hobby means few resources exist for troubleshooting

Fungus Farming and Diet

Myrmicocrypta spinosa is a fungus-farming ant in the tribe Attini. Like all Attini, they cultivate a fungal garden as their primary food source. The workers collect plant material (typically leaf fragments in more derived species) to feed the fungus, which then produces specialized structures called gongylidia that the ants eat ^[3]. As a palaeoattine species, M. spinosa practices 'lower agriculture', a more primitive form of fungus farming where the fungus grows directly on the chamber floor rather than being suspended from the ceiling ^[1]. In captivity, you will need to maintain a healthy fungal culture. This typically involves providing small pieces of fresh leaves, flower petals, or other plant material for the fungus to grow on. The fungal garden is sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations, so stable conditions are critical.

Housing and Nest Setup

This is the most critical aspect of keeping Myrmicocrypta spinosa. Unlike most Attini that nest in soil, M. spinosa naturally nests inside cavities within rotten logs, specifically in abandoned galleries created by wood-boring beetles ^[1]. This means standard test tubes and acrylic formicaria are not appropriate. The best housing option is a naturalistic setup using actual rotten wood with observation chambers, or a wooden formicarium with pre-drilled cavities. The nest chambers should be irregular in shape, matching their natural nesting conditions ^[1]. Provide a section of damp, rotting wood (like oak or maple) with several glass tube inserts for observation. The wood should be soft enough that the ants can potentially expand their galleries if needed. The outworld should include a water source and be easy to supply with plant material for the fungus garden.

Temperature and Humidity Requirements

As a Neotropical species from Guyana and Colombia, Myrmicocrypta spinosa requires warm, humid conditions. Maintain the nest area in the low-to-mid 20s°C range using a heating cable placed on top of the nest (never underneath, as this can dry out the wood too quickly). Create a temperature gradient so the ants can choose their preferred zone. Humidity is critical, the rotten wood substrate should remain consistently damp but not soggy. The fungal garden is highly sensitive to drying out. Monitor for condensation inside the observation tubes, which indicates good humidity. Avoid placing the nest near air conditioning vents or in rooms with fluctuating temperatures. The combination of warmth and stable humidity supports both the ant colony and their fungal cultivar.

Colony Founding

Colony founding behavior has not been directly documented for Myrmicocrypta spinosa. Based on patterns from other Attini species, the queen likely seals herself in a small chamber (claustral founding) and survives on stored fat reserves while raising the first workers. The first workers then emerge and begin tending the fungal garden. If you acquire a founding queen, place her in a small container with a piece of damp, rotten wood or a small chamber. Do not disturb her during the founding period, queens of fungus-farming ants are particularly sensitive to vibration and disturbance. Once the first workers emerge (nanitics), you can slowly introduce small amounts of plant material for the developing fungus garden.

Growth and Development

Specific development timelines for Myrmicocrypta spinosa are not documented in available literature. Based on related palaeoattine species, expect the process from egg to first worker to take several months under optimal conditions. The colony will grow slowly, fungus-farming ants do not produce the rapid worker explosions seen in some predatory species. The key to successful growth is maintaining a healthy fungal garden. The fungus itself takes time to establish and expand. A mature colony will have a substantial fungal garden that the workers tend around the clock. Growth rate depends heavily on the health of the fungal cultivar and the consistency of temperature and humidity. Expect the first year to be primarily about establishing both the colony and the fungus garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References