Nesomyrmex paquisha

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Hard
• Origin & Habitat: Cordillera del Cóndor, Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador at 1815-2007 meters elevation. Inhabits pristine cloud forests on sandstone plateaus with high humidity, bromeliads, and bryophytes ^[1][2].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been documented in the scientific literature ^[1].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable.
  • Worker: Size data unavailable.
  • Colony: Up to 6 workers per sample based on field data, suggesting small colonies ^[1].
  • Growth: Unknown, no captive data available.
  • Development: Unknown, no development data exists for this species. (Inferred from related species, but unconfirmed.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unknown, no specific data. Based on high-elevation cloud forest habitat, likely prefers cooler temperatures. Start around 20-24°C and observe colony activity.
  • Humidity: High, cloud forest habitat suggests consistent moisture. Keep substrate moist but not waterlogged^[2].
  • Diapause: Unknown, no seasonal data available ^[1].
  • Nesting: Based on arboreal collection via fogging, likely nests in vegetation. In captivity, provide small naturalistic setups with tight-fitting nests.
• Behavior: No captive observations documented. Likely arboreal foragers based on collection method. Tiny size requires excellent escape prevention. Temperament unknown ^[1]. As Myrmicinae, they likely have a smear defense mechanism, but this is not species-specific.
• Common Issues: lack of captive husbandry data makes care challenging., escape risk due to extremely small size., field-collected colonies may be damaged during collection., small colony size may lead to slow growth., high-elevation requirements may be difficult to replicate.

Discovery and Taxonomy

Nesomyrmex paquisha was described in 2025 by Pazmiño-Palomino, Troya, and Arredondo. The species name refers to its type locality Paquisha alto in the Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador. It belongs to the genus Nesomyrmex in the tribe Crematogastrini, subfamily Myrmicinae. This species is distinguished from related species like N. costatus and N. itinerans by its rough sculpture, straight mesosomal profile, presence of a metanotal groove, and reticulated microsculpture on the first gastral tergite ^[1].

Natural Habitat

This species is known only from the Cordillera del Cóndor in southern Ecuador, at elevations of 1815-2007 meters. It inhabits pristine cloud forests on sandstone plateaus with vegetation including Ilex, Weinmannia, Clusia, Pourouma, Iriartea, and Ceiba. The forests have high humidity with abundant bromeliads and bryophytes. Specimens were collected during afternoon after rain or before dusk, suggesting peak activity during humid conditions ^[1][2].

Size and Morphology

Workers have 12 antennomeres, a straight mesosomal profile, metanotal groove, propodeal spines shorter than eye length, petiole obovoid without tubercles, and rough sculpture with rugose pospetiolar dorsal sculpture and microreticulate first gastral tergite. Queens are slightly larger than workers, but body size data is unavailable ^[1].

Colony Structure in the Wild

Field samples contain only 1-6 individuals per sample, indicating colonies are very small. This suggests mature colonies may reach only some dozens of workers at most, rather than hundreds or thousands. The colony structure, such as queen number, has not been documented ^[1].

Housing and Nesting

Based on arboreal collection via fogging, this species likely nests in vegetation or forages in trees. In captivity, provide a small naturalistic setup with twigs, cork pieces, or a tight-fitting Y-tong or plaster nest scaled to their tiny size. Avoid large open spaces. High humidity is needed, so keep substrate moist but not waterlogged. Escape prevention is critical due to their small size^[2].

Feeding and Diet

Diet is unconfirmed, but as Myrmicinae, they likely accept small insects, honeydew, and sugar sources. Offer very small prey like flightless fruit flies or springtails, and sugar water for energy. Remove uneaten food to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

No specific temperature data exists, but based on high-elevation habitat, start around 20-24°C and observe colony behavior. Avoid temperatures above 28°C. They likely do not require hibernation but may show reduced activity during cooler periods. ^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

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References