Scientific illustration of Neoponera cooki ant - showing key identification features including head, thorax, and gaster.

Neoponera cooki

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Neoponera cooki
Tribe
Ponerini
Subfamily
Ponerinae
Author
MacKay & MacKay, 2010
Distribution
Found in 2 countries
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Introduction

Neoponera cooki is a moderate-sized black ant measuring around 13mm in total length . Workers are distinctive for their yellow-tipped funiculus (the final segments of the antennae) and are covered in long erect hairs. The head has fine longitudinal striae that diverge toward the back . These features help distinguish it from similar species like Neoponera apicalis and Neoponera fauveli . This ant is found in the Neotropical rainforests of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and French Guiana , where it forages on the leaf litter surface . The species was named in honor of myrmecologist Jerry Cook . Queens and males have not been described for this species, making captive breeding challenging as there are no established breeding protocols.

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Status by country, from Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Native Invasive Introduced (indoor) Intercepted Unknown
Data Sources
Year Range 2000 - 2026

Quick Summary

  • Difficulty: Expert
  • Origin & Habitat: Neotropical rainforest of Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and French Guiana. Specimens collected between 200-215 meters elevation in leaf litter habitats [2][3][4].
  • Colony Type: Unknown – queens have not been described.
  • Size & Growth:
    • Queen: Unknown – queens have not been described
    • Worker: 13mm total length [1]
    • Colony: Unknown – only a few specimens have ever been recorded, making this one of the rarest Neoponera species [5]
    • Growth: Unknown
    • Development: Unknown – no development data exists for this species. Based on related Neoponera species, estimate 6-10 weeks at optimal temperature. (No direct data available. Estimates based on genus-level patterns for Ponerine ants.)
  • Antkeeping:
    • Temperature: Keep warm, around 24-28°C. This species comes from

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References

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This caresheet is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 .