Temnothorax sirindhornae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Origin & Habitat: Western Thailand (Taksin Maharat National Park, Tak Province), found in pine plantation and hill evergreen forest at 1000 m elevation ^[1]
• Colony Type: Single-queen colonies (monogyne), wild colonies contain 15-16 workers ^[1]
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: 3.88-4.00 mm ^[1]
  • Worker: 2.00-2.90 mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Wild colonies have around 15-16 workers ^[1], captive potential is unknown, but they are unlikely to ever become large.
  • Growth: Moderate (estimated based on genus patterns)
  • Development: 6-10 weeks at optimal temperature (estimated from related Temnothorax species, not confirmed for this species) (The timeline is a rough guess, exact data are not available for this newly described species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at moderate temperatures around 20-24 °C, inferred from their highland subtropical habitat at 1000 m ^[1]. Watch your colony, if they become sluggish, adjust slightly warmer, if they avoid the heated area, cool it down.
  • Humidity: Keep the nest substrate moderately moist but not waterlogged. Their natural home in hill evergreen forest suggests balanced moisture. Provide a slight moisture gradient so they can choose.
  • Diapause: Unknown. Since they come from a subtropical highland area with a cooler dry season (November-February), a mild cooling period may be beneficial, but this is speculative. If you try it, lower temperatures to around 15-18 °C for 2-3 months and observe.
  • Nesting: Best kept in test tubes or Y‑tong (AAC) nests with narrow chambers that mimic the dead plant stems they use in the wild ^[1]. Test tubes work well for small colonies.
• Behavior: Docile and non‑aggressive, workers flee when disturbed. They have a modified stinger used to smear venom onto enemies (a “smear” defense, typical of their subfamily and tribe), but they pose no danger to keepers. Their tiny size (under 3 mm) means excellent escape prevention is needed, they can squeeze through tiny gaps. Use fine mesh on ventilation and check cotton barriers carefully.
• Common Issues: tiny size makes escapes likely unless you use fine mesh barriers and tight‑fitting lids, small wild colony size (15-16 workers) means slow growth, don't expect a big colony, newly described species (2025), captive care is not well‑documented, be ready to adjust conditions based on your colony's behavior, test tube setups must have properly packed cotton and secure lids to prevent flooding and escapes, over‑moistening the nest can cause problems, they prefer moderate moisture, not wet conditions

Housing and Nest Setup

Because Temnothorax sirindhornae is so tiny, you need appropriately scaled housing. Test tubes work great for founding colonies, use a small water reservoir and pack the cotton properly so it doesn't flood. For larger colonies, Y‑tong (AAC) nests with narrow chambers are ideal since they mimic the narrow plant stems these ants naturally nest in ^[1]. Make chambers sized for workers under 3 mm. Avoid large, open spaces, these ants feel safer in tight, enclosed spots. Escape prevention is critical: their small size lets them squeeze through gaps that larger ants can't. Use fine mesh on all ventilation holes and make sure every lid fits tightly.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep your colony at a moderate temperature, roughly 20-24 °C. This matches their natural home at 1000 m elevation in northern Thailand ^[1]. Avoid heating above 26 °C. Offer a gentle temperature gradient so workers can pick their comfort zone. Since they come from a subtropical highland area with a cooler dry season (November-February), you might try a slight cooling period in winter. Full hibernation probably isn't needed, but 2-3 months at 15-18 °C could mimic their natural cycle. Watch the colony: if they stay active and healthy at room temperature year‑round, you don't have to cool them.

Feeding and Diet

Like other Temnothorax, these ants eat a mix of small protein and sugary foods. Offer tiny live prey such as fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or bits of mealworm. They'll also take sugar water or honey. Feed small amounts 2-3 times a week and remove any leftover prey after 24 hours to prevent mold. Since wild colonies are tiny (15-16 workers), don't overfeed, a few small prey items each feeding is plenty ^[1]. Change sugar water daily.

Colony Development and Expectations

Wild colonies of Temnothorax sirindhornae contain only 15-16 workers with a single queen ^[1]. That means you should expect slow growth compared to more prolific species. A founding queen will lay eggs slowly, and the first workers (nanitics) will be very small. Be patient, it may take several months to even reach 20 workers. Over 1-2 years the colony will gradually expand, but it will never become huge. This species is best for keepers who enjoy watching small, intimate colonies rather than fast‑growing ones.

Handling and Temperament

Temnothorax sirindhornae is peaceful and harmless. Workers are tiny and non‑aggressive, they'll run away rather than fight. They have a modified stinger used to smear venom (typical of their subfamily and tribe), but they won't use it on you. Observe them rather than handle them. If you need to move the colony, gently coax them into a test tube. Their small size and docile nature make them a low‑maintenance, observation‑focused species.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References