Zasphinctus lolae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Ghana, West Africa, Bobiri Forest Reserve and Wiawso, both lowland rainforest at 260-300 m elevation ^[1]. Collected from soil in primary unlogged forest.
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been documented.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Undescribed, queen caste has not been documented in the literature ^[1]
  • Worker: Very small, only head length (0.90-0.98 mm) and mesosomal length (Weber's length: 1.29-1.40 mm) are reported. Total body length has not been measured ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data exists
  • Growth: Unknown, no development data available
  • Development: Unknown, no development data exists for this species. As a rough estimate based on other Dorylinae, development might take 4-8 weeks at optimal temperatures, but that's speculative. (No direct data is available. Ghana's climate is warm year‑round, so if you manage to get a colony, development may be continuous without temperature dips.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Inferred from Ghana rainforest origin: aim for 24-28 °C. No direct thermal studies exist, so watch your colony and adjust ^[1].
  • Humidity: Inferred from rainforest habitat: keep the substrate consistently moist (not waterlogged) to mimic a tropical forest floor ^[1].
  • Diapause: Unknown, Ghana's stable warm climate suggests no obligatory diapause, but this is unconfirmed.
  • Nesting: No specific nesting data. They were collected from soil, so an underground nest with a soil or soil‑like substrate is likely. Provide a humid, dark chamber.
• Behavior: No behavioural observations have been published. As a Dorylinae, it likely has a functional stinger and a predatory lifestyle, but these are inferences. Given their tiny size, escape prevention is critical, standard barriers may be insufficient. Aggression level unknown.
• Common Issues: extremely rare, no captive husbandry data exists, expect a steep learning curve., founding behaviour is unconfirmed, wild‑caught queens may be hard to establish., tiny size makes escape prevention difficult, use fine mesh and avoid gaps., no dietary information, you'll need to experiment with small live prey., rainforest conditions are hard to replicate, careful temperature and humidity management required.

Species Discovery and Taxonomy

Zasphinctus lolae was formally described in 2025 by Hita Garcia and Gómez as part of a comprehensive revision of the genus Zasphinctus ^[1]. The species name honours the mother of co‑author Kiko Gómez. Only five specimens are known, collected from two locations in Ghana over 50 years: Wiawso in 1969 and Bobiri Forest Reserve in 2019 ^[1]. The holotype and some paratypes are deposited at RBINS, MNHNC, NHMUK, and ZMHB ^[1].

The species belongs to the Zasphinctus sarowiwai group, which includes the larger members of the genus. Members of this group have a thick, compact build, a smooth and shiny body, and distinctive piliferous foveae (small pits that hold sensory hairs) ^[1]. Note that the 3D mouthpart model published in an earlier revision (Hita Garcia et al. 2017) as Z. sarowiwai actually belongs to Z. lolae (specimen CASENT0764652) ^[2].

Natural Habitat and Distribution

1500 mm of annual rainfall. Replicate these conditions if you keep this species. ^[1]

Size and Morphology

Workers are very small, with a head length of 0.90-0.98 mm and a mesosomal length (Weber's length) of 1.29-1.40 mm. Their body is almost entirely smooth and shiny, with piliferous foveae (small pits) on the head and scattered across the rest of the body ^[1]. The petiole is relatively thick, being 1.2-1.3 times broader than long in dorsal view, and abdominal segment VI is very short, about 1.9-2 times broader than long ^[1].

No queen or male has been described, only workers are known ^[1].

Inferred Care Requirements

Because no captive husbandry data exists for Z. lolae, all care recommendations must be inferred from its natural habitat and related species. As a Ghana rainforest Dorylinae, it almost certainly needs warm (24-28 °C), humid conditions, think a consistently moist (not waterlogged) substrate ^[1].

Dorylinae are predatory, so offer small live prey such as springtails, fruit flies, and other micro‑arthropods. Start with these and watch to see if they are accepted. Sugar sources may or may not be taken, offer occasionally but don't rely on them.

For nesting, use a soil‑based setup or a test tube with damp substrate. Their tiny size makes escape prevention essential, use fine mesh, and seal all gaps. Start simple and adapt based on how the colony behaves.

Challenges and Considerations

Zasphinctus lolae is one of the most challenging ant species to keep because we know almost nothing about its care. This is definitely not a beginner or even intermediate species, it's an expert‑level project that may take years to develop reliable husbandry protocols.

Key unknowns: colony founding type (claustral or semi‑claustral), dietary preferences, exact temperature/humidity tolerances, colony size, and growth rate. Additionally, the species was only described in 2025,so few people have even attempted to keep it. If you do get a colony, document everything, any care observations would be a real contribution. ^[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

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References