Paratrachymyrmex irmgardae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Northern Colombia, specifically Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, La Guajira, Magdalena, and Cesar departments. They inhabit tropical dry forest at 250-150m elevation ^[2].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed, but based on Attini patterns, likely single-queen colonies.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: ~5-7 mm, inferred from Paratrachymyrmex genus
  • Worker: ~3-5 mm, inferred from Paratrachymyrmex genus
  • Colony: Unknown, estimated based on related Attini species
  • Growth: Moderate
  • Development: Estimated 8-12 weeks at optimal temperature, inferred from Attini patterns (Fungus-growing ants typically have longer development times due to fungal garden establishment.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 24-28°C. As a tropical species, they need warm conditions. A heating cable can create a gradient.
  • Humidity: Keep nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Fungus gardens need moisture but can be damaged by oversaturation.
  • Diapause: No, as a tropical species from Colombia, they do not require hibernation.
  • Nesting: Y-tong (AAC) or plaster nests work well. Provide a fungal garden chamber and small outworld.
• Behavior: Generally peaceful and non-aggressive. As Attini ants, they have a sting but are not aggressive towards humans. Workers are small and slow-moving. Escape risk is moderate, use standard barriers.
• Common Issues: fungal garden failure is the primary risk, improper humidity or contamination can kill the culture, tropical species are sensitive to temperature drops, keep consistently warm, limited availability makes this species difficult to acquire, slow growth compared to non-fungus-cultivating species may frustrate beginners, wild-caught colonies may carry fungal pathogens that fail in captivity

Fungus Cultivation - The Key to Their Care

Paratrachymyrmex irmgardae is part of the Attini tribe, which cultivate fungi for food ^[3]. Unlike leaf-cutting ants, they use small organic fragments to feed their fungal gardens ^[3]. In captivity, provide small pieces of leaves, grass, flower petals, or other organic matter. The fungus requires consistent moisture and stable temperatures to thrive. If the fungal garden dies, the colony will starve regardless of how much food you provide.

Nest Setup and Housing

For this species, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster formicarium works well. The nest should have a dedicated chamber for the fungal garden that stays consistently moist without becoming waterlogged. Provide a small outworld for foraging where you can place organic material. Escape prevention is straightforward as they are not particularly agile, though standard barriers are always recommended.

Temperature and Humidity

As a tropical species from Colombia, Paratrachymyrmex irmgardae needs warm conditions year-round. Keep the nest at 24-28°C, with a slight gradient allowing workers to choose their preferred temperature. Temperature drops below 20°C can stress the colony and damage the fungal garden. For humidity, aim for consistently moist substrate without waterlogging. Overly wet conditions cause fungal rot, while dry conditions kill the fungus. ^[2]

Feeding and Nutrition

The primary food is the fungal garden, not direct prey. Provide small organic materials for the ants to cultivate their fungus: tiny leaf fragments, grass clippings, flower petals, or seed husks. Do not offer large prey items, these ants are not effective predators. Sugar water is generally not needed and may harm the fungal garden if spilled.

Colony Development and Growth

Colony growth in fungus-growing ants follows a specific pattern. A newly mated queen seals herself in a chamber and begins cultivating a small fungal pellet. She feeds the fungus with her own metabolic resources until the first workers emerge. These workers then take over foraging for organic material to expand the fungal garden. Development from egg to worker likely takes 8-12 weeks at optimal temperature, though this is estimated based on related Attini species. Colonies grow moderately fast once established, but the need to build and maintain a fungal garden means growth is slower than comparable-sized non-cultivating ants.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References