Temnothorax nylanderi

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Origin & Habitat: Native to Western and Central Europe, from southern Scandinavia to the Caucasus, with highest numbers in deciduous and mixed forests of France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands ^[5]. They strongly prefer old-growth forests, especially oak-birch woodlands, where they nest in dead wood at ground level ^[2].
• Colony Type: Single-queen (monogynous) colonies with up to 200 workers, though occasional multi-queen nests have been recorded ^[3]. Colonies can fuse with each other, and founding queens may take over established colonies (intraspecific parasitism) ^[6].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: 3-4 mm ^[1]
  • Worker: 2-3 mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Up to 350 workers, commonly around 200 ^[1]
  • Growth: Slow
  • Development: Roughly 6-8 weeks at optimal temperature (estimated based on genus patterns) (First year produces only a few workers, a colony takes about 5 years to reach 100 workers ^[1])
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature, ideally 18-22°C, and avoid overheating. They naturally live on shaded, cool forest floors with high humidity ^[1].
  • Humidity: High humidity is vital, keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. A humidity of 70-85% mimics their natural damp forest litter ^[1].
  • Diapause: Yes, they need a winter hibernation of 3-4 months at 5-10°C, typically November to March for temperate regions. Founding queens overwinter alone before laying eggs in spring ^[1].
  • Nesting: Tiny cavities work best, test tubes with cotton stoppers, Y-tong (AAC) nests with narrow chambers, or natural setups with acorns or hollow twigs. Keep nests dark and humid.
• Behavior: Workers are relatively aggressive towards intruders and will sting freely (^[7]), but the sting is not painful to humans. Their primary defense is smearing venom using a modified stinger (subfamily Myrmicinae, tribe Crematogastrini). They use tandem running to recruit nestmates to food ^[4]. Workers forage mainly within 50 cm of the nest and efficiently find scattered resources ^[8]. Colonies readily relocate when disturbed and can fuse with neighbors. Escape risk is moderate, their small size means they can slip through tiny gaps, so use fine mesh.
• Common Issues: High humidity needs can cause mold if ventilation is poor, balance moisture with airflow., Their tiny size makes escape prevention critical, use fine mesh barriers and tight-fitting lids., Colonies grow slowly and stay small, beginners may lose patience with their slow development., Wild-caught colonies may carry parasites like the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis, which can affect colony health ^[14]., Test tube setups can flood if water reservoirs are too large, use appropriately sized tubes.

Housing and Nest Setup

Temnothorax nylanderi does best in tiny, humid cavities that mimic their natural acorn and twig nests. A test tube setup works great, use small tubes (10-12 mm) with a water reservoir at one end secured with cotton. The ants will cluster in the dark, humid section. Alternatives include Y-tong (AAC) nests with narrow chambers or custom nests scaled to their 2-3 mm size. Natural setups with hollow acorns or small twigs are visually appealing but harder to maintain. Keep the nest area dark, as these forest ants prefer dim conditions. An outworld for foraging should include a shallow water source and small prey items. ^[1][2]

Feeding and Diet

These ants are generalists with a taste for protein. In captivity they happily take small live prey like fruit flies, springtails, and tiny crickets. They also consume sugar water, honey, or diluted maple syrup, workers carry these back to the colony. In the wild they hunt small insects and opportunistically collect honeydew ^[10]. Feed small prey 2-3 times per week and remove leftovers after 24 hours. Keep a constant sugar water supply. Because of their tiny size, prey should be appropriately sized, fruit flies and pinhead crickets are ideal.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Temnothorax nylanderi prefers cooler temperatures than many pet ants. Keep them at 18-22°C, ideally around 20°C. They naturally inhabit shaded forest floors and are sensitive to heat and dryness. During winter (November-March), they need a hibernation period at 5-10°C, this is essential for colony health and triggers spring breeding. Place the colony in an unheated room or refrigerator (not freezer) during diapause. Keep the setup dark and ensure the nest doesn't dry out. Spring colonies tolerate stressors like cadmium better than winter colonies, so seasonal timing matters for experiments or stress exposure ^[11].

Colony Dynamics and Behavior

This species shows fascinating social behaviors, especially tandem running, a forager physically leads a nestmate to food ^[4]. Success rates improve dramatically with practice, from 67% on first tries to over 90% after several visits ^[4]. Colonies can contain intercastes (intermediate forms between workers and queens), which is unusual in ants ^[12]. They also show the 'dear enemy' phenomenon, reducing aggression toward familiar neighbors ^[13]. Colonies readily relocate when disturbed and may fuse with neighboring colonies, likely an adaptation to limited nest sites. Workers are relatively aggressive towards intruders and will sting freely (^[7]), but the sting is not painful to humans. Their primary defense is smearing venom. Workers live several months, while queens can live up to 15 years ^[1].

Reproduction and Nuptial Flights

Nuptial flights happen in summer, typically June through August, triggered by increasing morning light ^[1]. Males and winged queens emerge and mate during these flights. After mating, newly fertilized queens seek small cavities, hollow twigs, acorns, or bark crevices, to start new colonies. The founding queen seals herself in and overwinters alone, then begins laying eggs in spring ^[1]. First-year colonies produce only a handful of workers, it takes about 5 years to reach 100 workers. Colonies are primarily single-queen (monogynous) but can occasionally adopt extra queens through colony fusion.

Health and Parasites

Temnothorax nylanderi can be parasitized by the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis, which dramatically changes infected workers, they turn yellow, become less active, and live much longer (up to 842 days vs. 254 days for healthy foragers) ^[14]. This parasite manipulates host behavior to increase transmission to bird predators. Infected colonies show reduced overall aggression. The fungus Myrmicinosporidium durum has also been recorded in Italian populations ^[15]. When collecting wild colonies, watch for unusually yellow workers, this may indicate parasitism. Despite infections, colonies can persist for years, and parasitized workers often receive more care from nestmates ^[16].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References