Cladomyrma nudidorsalis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Origin & Habitat: West Malaysian rainforests (Fraser's Hill, Belum near Thai border), living inside stems of understorey trees Drypetes longifolia and Ryparosa fasciculata at 650-850m elevation ^[1][2].
• Colony Type: Monogyne, colonies start with multiple founding queens but eventually a single queen monopolizes the entire host plant ^[2]. Colonies reach approximately 3000-5000 workers in trees over 5 meters tall ^[2].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: ~3-4 mm (inferred from genus, research provides alitrunk length 2.20-2.40 mm) ^[1]
  • Worker: ~2-3 mm (inferred from genus, research provides alitrunk length 0.76-1.14 mm) ^[1]
  • Colony: Up to 3000-5000 workers in mature trees ^[2]
  • Growth: Moderate
  • Development: Unknown (Development timeline has not been studied for this species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C. They come from tropical rainforest understorey at moderate elevation, so warmth with moderate humidity is ideal.
  • Humidity: High humidity (70-85%). These ants live inside plant stems which maintain consistent moisture. Use a naturalistic setup with plant stems that retain humidity.
  • Diapause: No, being a tropical species, they do not require hibernation. Keep temperatures stable year-round ^[1].
  • Nesting: This is the most critical aspect. They need hollow stems or stem-like structures to nest in. A naturalistic terrarium setup with suitable plant material works best. They cannot be kept in standard soil nests or test tubes long-term. Queens chew into plant internodes to found colonies, so provide appropriate substrate ^[2].
• Behavior: These are gentle, non-aggressive ants that focus on tending scale insects for honeydew rather than defending territory ^[2]. Workers slowly patrol young foliage and shoots, licking the surface ^[2]. They are not defensive and unlikely to sting. Escape risk is moderate, their small size means they can squeeze through small gaps, but they are not strong climbers like some Formicinae.
• Common Issues: specialized habitat requirements, cannot be kept in standard soil nests or test tubes long-term, need for live scale insects or alternative honeydew source, they rely on tending coccoids, difficulty establishing founding queen, she must chew into plant material, not just find a cavity, colony collapse if host plant material dries out or becomes unsuitable, slow colony growth means keepers may lose patience and abandon the colony

Housing and Nest Setup

Cladomyrma nudidorsalis cannot be kept in conventional ant keeping setups. They are specialized plant-ants that require hollow stems or stem-like structures to thrive. A naturalistic terrarium with suitable plant material is essential. You can use hollow bamboo, dried plant stems, or artificial stem structures filled with moist substrate. The key is providing chambers that the ants can occupy and expand. Unlike soil-nesting ants, they need vertical spaces that mimic their natural tree-dwelling habitat. The enclosure should include live plant material if possible, as the ants prefer to tend their scale insect partners on young growth. Ensure the setup allows for humidity control while preventing mold buildup ^[2].

Feeding and Diet

In the wild, these ants derive most of their nutrition from tending hemipteran scale insects (coccoids) inside their host plant stems. They maintain a mutualistic relationship with species including Pseudococcidae and Coccidae ^[2]. The ratio of scale insects to workers ranges from 1:5 to 1:13,averaging 1:9 ^[2]. In captivity, you must replicate this by providing scale insects or a reliable honeydew source. Offer sugar water or honey occasionally, but this alone will not sustain the colony long-term. Live scale insects (mealybugs or soft scale) are the ideal food source. Place them inside the stem structures where the ants can tend them. Workers also patrol young foliage and may collect surface substances, but they have not been observed harvesting food bodies ^[2]. Protein supplementation through small insects may help but is not their primary diet.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep these ants warm and humid to match their rainforest understorey origin. Temperature should be maintained at 24-28°C with minimal fluctuation. A heating cable placed on one side of the enclosure creates a gentle gradient. Humidity is critical, aim for 70-85% relative humidity. The stem material should remain consistently moist but not waterlogged. These ants are adapted to the stable tropical climate of Malaysian rainforests and do not tolerate cool or dry conditions. Avoid placing the colony near air conditioning or heating vents that cause temperature swings. Unlike temperate species, they do not require any cooling period or diapause ^[1].

Colony Establishment

Getting a colony established is the biggest challenge with this species. In the wild, founding queens chew entry holes into plant internodes rather than using preformed cavities ^[2]. Multiple founding queens commonly colonize a single plant, but competition eventually results in a single monogynous colony monopolizing the entire host ^[2]. For captive breeding, you will need to provide a queen with appropriate plant material she can chew into. The queen should be given a hollow stem section she can access and modify. After the founding chamber is established, she raises her first workers alone. The first workers then begin enlarging the nest and tending any scale insects present. Queens do not carry coccoids during nuptial flight, nymphal stages either enter the founding chamber on their own or are collected by the first workers ^[2]. This means you may need to introduce scale insects to the colony once workers have hatched.

Behavior and Colony Dynamics

Established colonies form continuous interconnected tunnel systems throughout their host plant ^[2]. Workers show a strong preference for young, immature plant parts where they patrol slowly, examining surfaces ^[2]. They are not aggressive or territorial like many ant species. Instead, their main activity is tending their scale insect partners and collecting honeydew. Workers walk slowly over leaf surfaces, licking them and discarding larger particles ^[2]. This calm, methodical behavior makes them fascinating to observe but less exciting than more active ant species. The colony grows over time as workers expand into new stem sections and the scale insect population increases. A mature colony of 3000-5000 workers represents a significant investment in time and proper care.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References