Stenamma brevicorne

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario south to Tennessee and west to Nebraska and Minnesota ^[1][2]. Inhabits moist woodlands (maple, oak, beech), forest edges, low grassy fields, and occasionally open areas near water ^[1][3]. Also found in cedar fens, peat bogs, and dry-mesic woodlands ^[4][5].
• Colony Type: Monogyne, single queen per colony ^[6]. Colonies are small, rarely exceeding 200 workers, the largest documented colony had 105 workers plus alates ^[1][3].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: 3.4-4.2 mm ^[1]
  • Worker: 2.7-3.8 mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Up to ~200 workers in mature colonies ^[3]
  • Growth: Slow, colonies remain small
  • Development: Estimated 8-12 weeks based on typical temperate ant development at 18-22 °C (No direct data for this species. Expect 2-3 months from egg to first worker at optimal temperatures.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 18-22 °C (room temperature). This temperate species tolerates cooler conditions better than heat, avoid sustained temperatures above 25 °C. Provide a slight gradient if possible.
  • Humidity: Moist nest substrate, keep the nesting area damp but not waterlogged. Use a water tube or test tube setup with a cotton plug. A small area of drier substrate can be allowed in the outworld.
  • Diapause: Yes, requires winter hibernation. Reduce to 5-10 °C for 3-4 months (roughly November-February) to mimic natural overwintering. Alates overwinter in the nest ^[1].
  • Nesting: Test tubes work for founding colonies. For established colonies, use naturalistic setups with moist soil, plaster, or Y-tong (no acrylic). They need dark, humid chambers and a foraging area with moist leaf litter or soil. Avoid dry, exposed nests.
• Behavior: Timid and sluggish, workers are carnivorous and prefer small live prey like springtails and fruit flies ^[1][7]. They are hypogaeic (ground‑dwelling) and forage over the soil surface only in cool, damp weather ^[3]. Escape risk is low because they are not strong climbers, but their small size (under 4 mm) means they can slip through tiny gaps, ensure tight seals around the nest.
• Common Issues: slow growth, colonies stay small and grow slowly, which may frustrate beginners, sensitive to disturbance, timid ants may abandon brood if the nest is jarred or over‑lit, difficulty finding queens, wild queens are rarely seen, collecting a colony is more reliable but still hard, sensitive to drying, require consistently moist substrate, drying can kill the colony, improper hibernation, failing to provide 3-4 months of cold (5-10 °C) may disrupt reproduction and cause die‑offs

Housing and Nest Setup

Start colonies in a test tube setup with a water reservoir and cotton plug. Keep the tube dark by wrapping it in aluminum foil. Once the colony outgrows the tube (usually after a year or more), move them to a nest with moist soil or a plaster/Y‑tong block with built‑in hydration. These ants are not climbers, so a low outworld with a thin layer of moist substrate works well. Provide ample leaf litter or bark for cover, they feel secure under debris. Avoid any ventilation gaps smaller than 1 mm, as workers can squeeze through ^[1].

Feeding and Diet

Workers are carnivorous and likely predaceous on small invertebrates ^[1][7]. Offer live prey such as springtails, fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or small mealworms. Protein feeding 2-3 times per week is sufficient. Sugar sources like diluted honey or sugar water are accepted occasionally but are not a primary need, these ants do not rely on honeydew. Remove uneaten prey after 2 days to prevent mold in the humid environment ^[1][2].

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep colonies at room temperature (18-22 °C). They tolerate cool conditions better than heat, never exceed 25 °C for long. From November to February, provide a hibernation period at 5-10 °C. Transfer the colony to a dry nest (not a test tube with water) to avoid condensation drowning. Slow cooling over a few days helps the ants adjust. After hibernation, gradually warm them back to room temperature over 1-2 weeks. This cycle is essential for normal brood production and alate development ^[1][3].

Behavior and Observation

Stenamma brevicorne is one of the more cryptic ant species. Workers are timid, sluggish, and spend almost all their time underground or hidden under debris ^[1]. Foraging occurs mainly at dusk or on cool, damp days ^[3][8]. You will rarely see a long foraging trail, instead, workers emerge briefly to grab prey and retreat. Observing them requires patience and a dim red light. This species is best for keepers who enjoy subtle natural history rather than flashy activity ^[1].

Colony Growth and Reproduction

Colonies stay small, maxing out around 200 workers ^[3]. The largest recorded wild colony had 105 workers plus 8 alate females and 12 males ^[1]. Alate pupae appear from early July to mid‑August, and winged adults are present from August to September ^[3][2]. They overwinter inside the nest and mate in spring, usually in May ^[1]. Males form swarms at tree tops, and mated queens fly at dusk ^[8]. If your colony produces alates, you might observe a nuptial flight after the first warm days of spring following hibernation.

Acquisition and Collection

Stenamma brevicorne is rarely kept in the hobby. The best way to start a colony is to find a wild colony under a stone or log in moist woodland during spring or early summer. Searching after a rain when the soil is damp increases your chances. Alternatively, you can attempt to capture a mated queen during mating flights in May, look for queens near tree tops in open woodland edges at dusk. Because colonies are small and cryptic, this requires persistence ^[1][2].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References