Doleromyrma rottnestensis

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Origin & Habitat: Rottnest Island and surrounding Western Australia coastal areas. They nest under stones in beach environments ^[2].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Specific data on queen number and colony organization is not available in the literature.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Size data unavailable, no specific measurements for queens exist in available literature
  • Worker: Approximately 1-1.5mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Colony size data unavailable
  • Growth: Growth rate data unavailable
  • Development: Development time unconfirmed, no specific data exists for this species (Development timing is unknown for this species)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature. Specific temperature requirements are unconfirmed, being from a coastal Australian island with mild climate, a standard room temperature range is appropriate.
  • Humidity: Provide standard antkeeping humidity. Specific humidity requirements are unconfirmed for this species.
  • Diapause: Diapause requirements are unconfirmed. Western Australia has mild winters, but specific seasonal behavior has not been documented.
  • Nesting: They do well in test tubes for founding colonies. Once established, they adapt to various nest types including Y-tong or plaster nests. Their small size means narrow chambers work well.
• Behavior: Generally peaceful and non-aggressive. Workers are small and quick-moving, foraging actively for small prey and honeydew. They do not sting, being Dolichoderinae, they lack a functional sting and rely on chemical secretions for defense. Their escape risk is high due to their tiny size, they can squeeze through remarkably small gaps. Excellent escape prevention is essential: use tight-fitting lids, fine mesh barriers, and reliable barrier methods like fluon.
• Common Issues: escape prevention is critical due to their tiny size, they squeeze through gaps that larger ants cannot, colonies can be slow to establish initially, patience is needed during the founding phase, test tube setups must have properly secured cotton and tight-fitting barriers, their small size makes them easy to overlook when checking on colonies, specific care requirements are poorly documented, keepers may need to experiment to find optimal conditions

Housing and Setup

For founding colonies, a simple test tube setup works well. Fill a test tube one-third with water, push cotton to create a water reservoir, then add the queen and seal with a tight-fitting cotton stopper. Place the tube in a dark, quiet location and leave it alone for several weeks until the first workers emerge. Once you have workers, you can move them to a formicarium. Given their tiny size, any formicarium must have excellent escape prevention, tight-fitting lids, fine mesh on any ventilation, and barrier tape or fluon on edges. A Y-tong nest with narrow chambers or a small plaster nest works well. They don't need large spaces, small, appropriately scaled chambers are better for their security. ^[1][2]

Feeding and Diet

Like most Dolichoderinae ants, Doleromyrma rottnestensis is omnivorous with a preference for sweet liquids and small protein sources. Offer sugar water, honey, or diluted maple syrup as a constant carbohydrate source. For protein, small live prey works best, fruit flies, pinhead crickets, small mealworms, or other tiny insects. Being such small ants, their prey items should be appropriately sized. They will also likely tend aphids if available, so honeydew is a natural food source. Feed protein several times per week, and keep sugar water available at all times. Remove any uneaten prey after 24 hours to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Maintain room temperature for optimal colony health. They come from a coastal island with mild temperatures, so they don't need extreme heat. A standard room-temperature setup is usually sufficient. Specific winter requirements are unconfirmed, being from Western Australia's mild climate, they may not require a true hibernation period. Watch for behavioral changes and adjust conditions as needed based on colony activity.

Escape Prevention

This is the single most important aspect of keeping Doleromyrma rottnestensis. At just over 1mm in length, they are exceptional escape artists. They can squeeze through gaps as small as 0.5mm, meaning standard ant keeping setups may not contain them. Use only high-quality, tight-fitting lids on all containers. Apply fluon or barrier tape to all edges and rim surfaces. If using a formicarium, ensure all connections and tube openings are sealed with cotton or plug-style barriers. Never leave the colony unattended with any opening, no matter how small it appears. When observing, work over a white surface so you can spot any escapees easily.

Colony Development

Specific founding behavior is unconfirmed for this species. The first workers that emerge (called nanitics) are typically smaller than mature workers but will immediately begin foraging to support the colony. Colonies likely remain relatively small compared to species like Lasius or Camponotus. The queen is likely long-lived and will continue producing workers for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References