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

Temnothorax bernardi

Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Temnothorax bernardi
Tribe
Crematogastrini
Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Author
Espadaler, 1982
Distribution
Found in 1 countries
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Introduction

Temnothorax bernardi is a tiny social parasite – a slave-making ant that cannot survive without a host colony. Workers measure just 2.5–2.7 mm and queens reach 3.0–3.2 mm, with a yellowish-brown coloration that makes them easy to overlook . The species was originally described from Spain's Sierra de Gredos at 1400 m elevation in mixed pine-oak woodland . They have nearly absent sculpture, making their bodies unusually smooth and shiny for a Temnothorax . This ant belongs to the Palearctic clade and was formerly placed in the genus Myrmoxenus . What makes T. bernardi so tricky to keep is its parasitic lifestyle – it invades colonies of host species (primarily Temnothorax gredosi) and replaces the host queen . The queen enters the host nest, kills the existing queen (though some reports suggest she might not always kill her, see below), and is then accepted by the host workers as their new queen . Unlike some parasites that are workerless, T. bernardi keeps its own worker caste and actively conducts slave raids to capture host brood . This is an expert-level species that cannot be kept like typical ants – it requires a functioning host colony to survive.

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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: Iberian Peninsula (Spain) and Western Balkans (Croatia). Found in mountainous mixed woodland at elevations around 1400 m [1][2].
  • Colony Type: Social parasite (dulotic slave-maker). Cannot found colonies independently – requires invasion of host Temnothorax colony. Multiple parasitic queens can coexist in established mixed colonies [1].
  • Size & Growth:
    • Queen: 3.0–3.2 mm [1]
    • Worker: 2.5–2.7 mm [1]
    • Colony: Small mixed colonies – typically a few parasitic workers alongside many host workers [1]
    • Growth: Unknown
    • Development: Unknown – direct studies lacking. Related Temnothorax species develop in 6–10 weeks at warm temperatures (inferred). (No published data on developmental timing.)
  • Antkeeping:
    • Temperature: Unknown for this species. Based on related Palearctic Temnothorax, aim for room temperature (18–24 °C) with moderate stability. Avoid extremes above 28 °C or below 15 °C for long periods.
    • Humidity: Unknown. Related species prefer moderately damp nest conditions. Keep the nest substrate moist but not waterlogged. Provide a gradient if possible.
    • Diapause: Likely required – most Palearctic Temnothorax need winter rest. Provide 2–3 months at 5–10 °C during winter. Reduce feeding during this time.
    • Nesting: Y-tong (AAC) or plaster nests work well for the host species. The parasite lives inside the host nest. Use small chambers that match their tiny size.
  • Behavior: Timid and small. Workers are not aggressive but will defend the colony if disturbed. As a myrmicine, they have a stinger, but it's modified for smearing venom rather than piercing – so bites from these tiny ants are harmless to humans. Escape risk is moderate due to their tiny size – use fine mesh and fluon barriers. The parasitic queen relies on host workers once established, while parasite workers may conduct raids to acquire more host brood.
  • Common Issues: This species CANNOT be kept without a host colony – it is not optional., Finding the correct host species (Temnothorax gredosi or T. recedens) is extremely difficult outside its native range., Establishing a mixed colony requires successful queen introduction – high failure rate expected., Ethical concerns: collecting wild parasitic ants and their hosts may harm rare local populations., Once established, the parasite will gradually replace host workers – the host colony will decline over time.

Understanding Parasitic Ant Keeping

Temnothorax bernardi is a dulotic (slave-making) ant – it cannot survive independently because its queen cannot found a colony on her own [18208

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References

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This caresheet is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 .