Nylanderia maximon

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown
• Origin & Habitat: 1700 m elevation) in southern Guatemala and western Honduras, specifically in secondary hardwood forest and cloud forest leaf litter ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unknown, colony structure has not been documented for this species ^[1].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, queen has not been described ^[1]
  • Worker: 2.9-3.4 mm total length ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data available
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown ^[1] (Development timeline is unstudied, based on related Nylanderia species, it may take several months at optimal temperatures.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Based on highland habitat, aim for cool to moderate temperatures, roughly 18-24°C, and avoid overheating ^[1].
  • Humidity: Keep substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged, with a humidity gradient based on cloud forest habitat ^[1].
  • Diapause: Unknown, no data on diapause requirements ^[1].
  • Nesting: Inferred from leaf-litter habitat: use test tubes with cotton-plugged water reservoirs or small naturalistic setups with moist substrate ^[2].
• Behavior: Based on Nylanderia genus patterns, workers are likely active foragers that hunt small prey and tend honeydew-producing insects ^[2]. Their small size (under 4 mm) means escape prevention is critical, use fine mesh barriers and tight-fitting lids ^[1]. They are likely non-aggressive, with no documented sting capability ^[2].
• Common Issues: newly described species with no captive care history, expecting a learning curve., queen and colony structure unknown, making captive breeding unlikely., escape prevention is critical due to tiny worker size., highland origin means they likely need cooler temperatures than typical tropical ants., humidity requirements are unconfirmed, start with moderate to high humidity and observe colony behavior.

Discovery and Naming

Nylanderia maximon was described in 2025 during a research project in Guatemala. It was named after Maximón, a Mayan folk saint venerated in the Guatemalan highlands. The species was found in leaf litter samples from secondary hardwood forests at about 2150 m near Antigua, Guatemala, and from cloud forests in western Honduras ^[1].

Identification and Appearance

Workers are relatively large for the genus at up to 3.4 mm in total length. They have a square-shaped head with a medial emargination and a rounded mesonotum that does not rise above the pronotum. The body is medium to dark brown, with lighter brown on the head, mandibles, legs, and antennae. They have dense fine hairs covering most body surfaces and scattered longer hairs on the head, body, and legs. Their eyes are small relative to head size ^[1].

Natural Habitat

This species is found exclusively above 1700 m elevation in cloud forests of southern Guatemala and western Honduras. It lives in leaf litter in secondary oak, cypress, and hardwood forests, characterized by cool temperatures, high humidity, and dense organic material on the forest floor ^[1].

Housing and Care Recommendations

Provide cool to moderate temperatures around 18-24°C based on highland habitat ^[1]. Maintain high humidity with a moist but not waterlogged substrate ^[1]. Test tube setups with cotton-plugged water reservoirs work well for founding colonies, and small naturalistic setups with moist soil mimic their natural environment ^[2]. Escape prevention is essential due to their tiny size, use fine mesh barriers ^[1].

Feeding and Diet

Specific feeding preferences are unstudied, but Nylanderia species are omnivorous. Offer small live prey like fruit flies or springtails for protein, and provide sugar water or honey ^[2]. Remove uneaten food after 24-48 hours to prevent mold ^[2].

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