Myrmicaria morettoi

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, this is a newly described species with no captive husbandry data
• Origin & Habitat: Senegal, West Africa, specifically the Niokolo Koba National Park at approximately 144m elevation. Found nesting in the ground in a savanna/forest edge environment ^[1][2].
• Colony Type: Unknown, colony structure has not been documented.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Not yet described, no queen caste has been documented in scientific literature ^[1].
  • Worker: 6.0-7.8mm total length ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data exists for this species
  • Growth: Unknown, no development data available
  • Development: Unknown, no direct measurements exist. (This is a newly described species with no captive husbandry research.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Based on Senegal location (tropical West Africa), likely comfortable at 24-28°C. Start in this range and observe colony activity.
  • Humidity: Ground-nesting species from a tropical environment, keep nest substrate moderately moist but not waterlogged. Provide a moisture gradient so ants can choose their preferred zone.
  • Diapause: Unknown, Senegal has minimal seasonal temperature variation. Likely no true diapause, but may show reduced activity during cooler periods.
  • Nesting: Ground-nesting species. A naturalistic setup with soil or a Y-tong/plaster nest with moist substrate would be appropriate. Avoid completely dry conditions.
• Behavior: Not documented in captivity. Based on genus Myrmicaria behavior, these are likely active foragers that search for food on the ground. Escape prevention should be moderate, workers are a decent size (6-8mm) but can still climb smooth surfaces. Test tube setups work for founding colonies. This species has a sting, Myrmicaria belongs to the Solenopsidini tribe which uses venom composed of piperidine alkaloids for defense and hunting.
• Common Issues: no captive husbandry data exists, this is a completely new species to keep, founding colonies may be difficult to establish without wild-caught queens, temperature and humidity preferences are unconfirmed, requires experimentation, diet acceptance is completely unknown for this species, wild-caught colonies may carry parasites or diseases unfamiliar to captive antkeepers

Discovery and Naming

Myrmicaria morettoi was formally described in 2019 by Antonio Scupola, making it one of the most recently described ant species in the Myrmicaria genus. The species was named in honor of Philippe Moretto, a French entomologist who collected the type specimens along with F. Génier during fieldwork in Senegal from July 21-25,2007. The type locality is in the Niokolo Koba National Park, Tambacounda region of Senegal, at an elevation of 144 meters ^[1].

Unique Physical Features

This species stands out within the Myrmicaria genus due to its distinctive subpetiolar process, a structure formed by two elongated teeth on the underside of the petiolar peduncle. These teeth curve and meet at their tips, creating a ring-like formation. Interestingly, this feature shows variation even among paratypes from the same nest: some workers have the teeth joined apically forming a complete ring, others have separate teeth, and some lack the teeth entirely while still showing a thin translucent lamella ^[1]. The workers measure 6-7.8mm total length and have 7-segmented antennae with a 3-segmented club ^[1].

Habitat and Distribution

Myrmicaria morettoi is currently known only from Senegal in West Africa. The type locality in the Niokolo Koba National Park represents a tropical savanna environment with distinct wet and dry seasons. The species has been collected nesting in the ground, which aligns with typical Myrmicaria nesting behavior. This is the second known Myrmicaria species to possess a subpetiolar process, with the other being Myrmicaria salambo from the Congo ^[1].

Housing and Care Recommendations

Since this is a newly described species with no captive husbandry data, care recommendations must be considered experimental. Based on the species' origin in tropical Senegal and its ground-nesting habit, provide a nest setup with moist substrate, either a naturalistic setup with soil or a Y-tong/plaster formicarium. Maintain temperatures in the 24-28°C range, which aligns with tropical West African conditions. For founding colonies, a standard test tube setup with a water reservoir works well. Since we do not have confirmed diet information, start with protein sources (small insects) and sugar water, observing what the colony accepts. Always use escape prevention, though these ants are large enough that standard barriers are usually effective ^[1].

What We Don't Know

Honest antkeeping requires acknowledging that this species has essentially no documented captive care history. We lack information on: colony structure (single vs multiple queens), founding behavior (whether queens seal themselves in or forage), development time from egg to worker, exact temperature and humidity preferences, diet acceptance, and nuptial flight timing. Keepers interested in this species should be prepared for experimentation and careful observation. This makes it a challenging species for beginners who prefer well-documented care guides, but an exciting opportunity for advanced antkeepers who want to contribute to our understanding of a newly discovered species.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References