Pheidole soesilae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, Insufficient Data
• Origin & Habitat: Mount Kasikasima, Suriname (Neotropical region). The specific habitat is unconfirmed, but Suriname's forests experience tropical humid conditions with year-round temperatures of 25-27 °C and high rainfall ^[3].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, no colony samples have been documented. As a Pheidole species, they likely form colonies with one or multiple queens, but this is unverified.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, no queen has been documented for this species
  • Worker: Major worker: 8.2 mm total length ^[1]. Minor workers would be significantly smaller but have not been described
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony data exists
  • Growth: Unknown, no development data exists
  • Development: Unknown, no direct observations exist (Based on typical Pheidole patterns from related species, expect 6-8 weeks at tropical temperatures, but this is a rough estimate only)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Likely 24-28 °C based on Suriname's tropical climate. Provide a warm area around 26 °C with a slight gradient allowing workers to self-regulate ^[3]
  • Humidity: Likely 70-85% humidity to match tropical forest floor conditions. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged ^[3]
  • Diapause: Unlikely, Suriname has no distinct winter season. No diapause requirement is expected
  • Nesting: Unknown, no natural nesting observations exist. Likely soil-nesting like most Pheidole species. For captive care, start with a test tube setup and later move to a formicarium with soil, Y-tong, or 3D-printed nest. Avoid acrylic nests as they don't hold humidity well
• Behavior: Undocumented. As a Pheidole species, they likely show typical major/minor worker polymorphism with majors having enlarged heads for seed-processing. Pheidole species are generally non-aggressive but will defend nests vigorously. Escape risk is moderate given the major's size, use standard barrier methods ^[3]
• Common Issues: taxonomic uncertainty may cause confusion with similar species like Pheidole fimbriata, no established care protocols exist, keepers must experiment with conditions, very limited availability, this species is not commonly traded or kept, slow colony growth is typical for Pheidole, patience is required, wild-caught colonies may be difficult to obtain given the limited distribution

Taxonomic Background

Pheidole soesilae was originally described by Makhan in 2007 based on a single major worker collected from Mount Kasikasima in Suriname ^[1]. The species name honors Makhan's wife, Soesila. In 2019,Longino examined images of the holotype and concluded it was a junior synonym of the well-documented species Pheidole fimbriata, which is widespread throughout Middle America ^[3]. However, Makhan (2021) responded by arguing that P. soesilae shows an oval head with short carinae around the eyes, while P. fimbriata has an elongated head with longer carinae ^[2]. The taxonomic status remains disputed, and the species is not widely recognized in ant databases. For antkeepers, this means obtaining correctly identified specimens may be challenging, and many suppliers may not distinguish this from P. fimbriata or other similar Pheidole species.

Known Physical Characteristics

The holotype major worker measures 8.2 mm in total body length, making it a relatively large Pheidole species ^[1]. The head is entirely covered in longitudinal carinulae (ridge-like structures) that run the full length without breaking. The mandibles are relatively short and the eyes are small. The body is dark brown in color, with short hairs covering the antennae, mesosoma, and gaster. The postpetiole (the segment behind the petiole) is notably wide compared to the petiole, giving the rear of the thorax a distinctive appearance. Minor workers have not been described, but in Pheidole species they are typically much smaller with standard ant morphology.

Distribution and Climate

This species is known only from Mount Kasikasima in Suriname, a mountainous region in the eastern part of the country ^[1][2]. Suriname has a tropical humid climate with average temperatures of 25-27 °C year-round and annual rainfall exceeding 2000 mm in forested areas ^[3]. The humidity is consistently high, rarely dropping below 70% even during the dry season. Based on this climate data, colonies would likely thrive in warm, humid conditions similar to other Suriname-based ant species. However, no specific microhabitat information exists for P. soesilae, we don't know if it prefers forest floor, canopy, or more open areas.

Keeping This Species

No established care protocols exist for Pheidole soesilae because the species has never been kept in captivity. The best approach is to follow general Pheidole husbandry guidelines while adjusting based on colony behavior. Use a test tube setup for founding colonies, transitioning to a formicarium as the colony grows. Choose a nest type that holds humidity well, such as Y-tong, plaster, or a 3D-printed nest with a substrate. Keep temperatures in the 24-28 °C range with humidity around 75-85%. Feed a standard Pheidole diet, seeds, protein sources like insects, and occasional sugar water. Watch for colony activity levels as an indicator of whether conditions are suitable. If workers are sluggish, try warming slightly, if they avoid the moist areas, reduce humidity. This species is extremely rare in the antkeeping hobby, so finding a verified source may be difficult. Many specimens sold as P. soesilae may actually be P. fimbriata or another similar species. ^[3]

Frequently Asked Questions

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References