Myrmica lampra

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. Found in rotten, moist tree trunks on south-facing slopes at approximately 2400 feet elevation, in lichen spruce forest dominated by black spruce and caribou lichen ground cover ^[4][3].
• Colony Type: Workerless permanent social parasite, requires host colony (Myrmica alaskensis) to survive. The queen lives permanently in the host nest and produces only sexuals (queens and males), never workers ^[1][2].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: size data unavailable, inferred from Myrmica genus (~5-8mm)
  • Worker: Workerless, does not produce workers
  • Colony: Cannot be established as independent colony
  • Growth: Cannot be established
  • Development: Not applicable, workerless species (Queen produces only sexual offspring (new queens and males), never workers. Reproduction depends entirely on host colony resources.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Cannot be maintained without host colony
  • Humidity: Cannot be maintained without host colony
  • Diapause: Unknown, would depend on host colony biology
  • Nesting: Cannot be maintained without host colony
• Behavior: This species is not suitable for antkeeping. As a permanent social parasite, it has no worker caste and cannot survive independently. The queen lives within Myrmica alaskensis nests, where she is fed and tended by host workers. She produces only new queens and males, which leave the nest to mate. The species has no defense mechanisms independent of its host ^[1][2].
• Common Issues: this species cannot be kept in captivity, it requires a living Myrmica alaskensis host colony to survive., workerless parasites cannot establish colonies independently, the queen cannot produce workers., obtaining both parasite and suitable host would be extremely difficult as both are rare species., releasing any ant species in areas where they don't naturally occur causes ecological damage., the species is protected as vulnerable and should not be collected from the wild.

Why This Species Cannot Be Kept

Myrmica lampra is fundamentally different from every ant species typically kept by hobbyists. This is a workerless permanent social parasite, the queen cannot produce workers and cannot found a colony on her own. She depends entirely on Myrmica alaskensis host workers to feed her, clean her, and tend to any brood she produces. The queen only lays eggs that develop into new queens and males, she produces no worker brood ^[1][2]. This means there is no way to establish a self-sustaining M. lampra colony in captivity. Even if you somehow obtained both the parasite queen and a host colony, maintaining the parasitic relationship is extremely difficult and requires expert-level antkeeping knowledge. Additionally, both M. lampra and its host M. alaskensis are rare species found only in specific boreal habitats in Quebec. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, meaning it should not be collected from the wild ^[3]. If you are interested in keeping Myrmica ants, choose from the many non-parasitic species available in the hobby.

Natural History

Myrmica lampra was discovered in September 1965 during an ant biodiversity study in southeastern Quebec. The type specimens (a queen and male) were found inside a Myrmica alaskensis nest located in a rotten, moist tree trunk on the ground of a south-facing slope between the Sainte-Anne-du-Nord river and a sand road. The area is subarctic, dominated by black spruce forest with caribou lichen ground cover, at an elevation of approximately 2400 feet. This parasite is one of only two known workerless permanent social parasites in Quebec, the other being Myrmica quebecensis ^[5][6]. The species name 'lampra' comes from Greek meaning 'brilliant' ^[7]. Recent surveys have extended the known range over 2500km, with specimens collected from boreal sand hills in Alberta, suggesting the species may be more widespread than previously thought but still rare and localized ^[3].

Host Species Information

Myrmica lampra parasitizes Myrmica alaskensis, a species also found in boreal forest habitats across Canada. The host colony provides all care for the parasitic queen, feeding her, grooming her, and tending any eggs she lays. Unlike temporary social parasites (which invade host colonies, kill the host queen, and then raise their own workers), permanent parasites like M. lampra live peacefully alongside the host queen indefinitely, producing only sexual offspring (new queens and males) that leave to start the cycle again. This relationship is described as 'inquiline', the parasite lives within the host's nest without killing the host queen, essentially sharing resources ^[2][8]. If you were to attempt keeping this species (which is not recommended), you would need both a healthy M. alaskensis colony and the parasite queen.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Myrmica lampra is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. The species is known from very few localities and has specific habitat requirements (rotten wood in boreal forest). Collecting this species from the wild would be ethically questionable and potentially illegal depending on local regulations. Furthermore, antkeeping requires establishing a self-sustaining colony, something that is impossible with a workerless parasite. Rather than attempting to keep this rare species, antkeepers should appreciate it in its natural habitat or study it through scientific literature. If you want to keep Myrmica species, there are many common, non-parasitic species available in the antkeeping hobby that are suitable for beginners and experts alike ^[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References