Cardiocondyla nana

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia), lowland tropical rainforest at around 12 meters elevation ^[1][2]
• Colony Type: Unknown, only a single worker has ever been documented, so colony structure has not been determined ^[1]
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: No queens have been described, size unknown ^[1]
  • Worker: Extremely small, the smallest known Cardiocondyla species, total length has not been published. The only measurement available is head capsule size, but body length is undocumented ^[1][3]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony data exists
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, no development data exists for this species (No data exists. Related Cardiocondyla species typically develop from egg to worker in 4-8 weeks at warm temperatures, but this is a rough estimate only.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unknown for this species. Based on its lowland Borneo origin, aim for warm conditions around 24-28°C. Monitor colony activity and adjust accordingly.
  • Humidity: Unknown. As a Borneo lowland species, expect it to prefer humid conditions. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: Unknown, no seasonal data exists. Borneo has minimal seasonal temperature variation, so this species may not require a diapause period.
  • Nesting: No data exists on natural nesting preferences. Related Cardiocondyla species often nest in soil, under stones, or in rotting wood. A small test tube setup or Y-tong nest with tight chambers scaled to their tiny size would be appropriate.
• Behavior: Nothing is known about this species' behavior. Based on its subfamily (Myrmicinae, tribe Crematogastrini), it likely defends itself by smearing venom onto enemies using a flattened stinger. Related species are generalist foragers. Their extremely small size means escape prevention must be excellent, they can squeeze through gaps invisible to the naked eye.
• Common Issues: almost no biological data exists, you will be pioneering husbandry for this species, tiny size makes escape prevention critical, use fine mesh and check for any gaps, no known queen or colony information means founding behavior and colony structure are entirely speculative, defense mechanism likely involves venom smearing, but this is based on subfamily traits and not confirmed, without hibernation data, seasonal care requires experimentation

Discovery and Taxonomy

Cardiocondyla nana was first described in 2003 by the ant taxonomist Bernhard Seifert ^[3]. The holotype worker was collected in Brunei on the island of Borneo, specifically from Ulu Temburong National Park ^[1]. Remarkably, only one individual worker has ever been found, the holotype. This means we know the appearance of the worker (tiny, yellowish, with unique head sculpture), but we have no information about queens, males, colonies, or behavior. Every aspect of keeping this species is uncharted territory.

Size and Identification

This is the smallest known Cardiocondyla species in the world. Workers are extremely small, the only measurement published is for the head capsule, but total length has not been reported ^[3]. The worker has an extremely short head (the shortest relative to head width in the genus), long antennae, and notably long spines pointing backward from the rear of the thorax ^[1]. The most distinctive feature is the unique sculpture on the top of the head: large pits that show a four-leaf clover pattern when viewed under high magnification ^[1]. All body parts are light yellowish ^[1].

Habitat and Distribution

Cardiocondyla nana is known only from Brunei in northern Borneo, specifically from Ulu Temburong National Park at about 12 meters above sea level ^[1]. This is a lowland tropical rainforest environment with high humidity and warm temperatures year-round. The type locality coordinates are approximately 1.47°S,123.559°E ^[1]. The species has also been recorded from Indonesia and Malaysia in the broader Indomalaya region, but these records may need verification as only the Brunei specimen has been formally described ^[2]. The entire known range is within the tropical zone, suggesting this species is adapted to warm, humid conditions.

Keeping an Unstudied Species

Keeping Cardiocondyla nana is a pioneering endeavor since no husbandry information exists. Start with standard Cardiocondyla care as a baseline: small test tube setups for founding colonies, with a water reservoir and cotton plug. Because they are so tiny, use a test tube with a very narrow bore or consider a small Y-tong nest with chambers scaled to their minute size. Temperature should be warm (24-28°C) based on their tropical origin. Humidity should be high to mimic the damp rainforest floor. Feed small live prey like springtails or fruit flies, and offer sugar water or honey occasionally. Document everything, your observations could contribute to what little is known about this species.

Feeding and Diet

No direct data exists on what Cardiocondyla nana eats in the wild. Related Cardiocondyla species are generalist scavengers and predators that eat small insects, honeydew from aphids, and sugary substances. For this tiny species, offer very small live prey like springtails, newly hatched fruit flies, or tiny mealworm pieces. Sugar water or diluted honey can be offered as a carbohydrate source. Feed small amounts every few days and remove any uneaten food to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

As a Borneo lowland species, Cardiocondyla nana comes from an environment with minimal seasonal temperature variation, it experiences warm temperatures year-round. There is no data on whether this species enters any form of dormancy or diapause. Based on its origin, maintain warm temperatures between 24-28°C continuously. Do not attempt hibernation without any data to support it. If the colony shows reduced activity during cooler months, you might gradually reduce temperature slightly, but this is speculative. The key is stability, avoid temperature swings that could stress such a tiny, unstudied species.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References