Myrmecina camellia

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, this is a newly described species with no captive care data
• Origin & Habitat: India: Assam, found in the Hatikhuli Organic Tea Estate at coordinates 26.5822°N,93.4120°E. They live underground beneath tea plant (Camellia sinensis) roots ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been documented in scientific literature
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, queens have not been described
  • Worker: 2.98mm total length ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data available
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, no development data available (This is a newly described species (2020) with no published development studies.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Likely prefers warm conditions (22-28°C) based on origin in Assam, India, a subtropical region. Start in the mid-20s and observe colony behavior.
  • Humidity: Likely requires moderate to high humidity given its underground lifestyle in tea garden soil. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: Unknown, no seasonal data available. Assam has mild winters, so a light dormancy period may be beneficial but is not confirmed.
  • Nesting: In nature they live underground beneath tea plant roots. A naturalistic setup with soil or a plaster nest with small chambers would suit them. Their very small size means they need tight passages and small chambers.
• Behavior: This species is poorly studied in captivity. In the wild, workers were never observed above ground, suggesting they are highly cryptic and may be slow-moving or shy ^[1]. Their small size (under 3mm) means escape prevention is critical, they can slip through standard test tube barriers. Myrmecina species are generally not aggressive and rarely sting ^[3]. As Myrmicinae, they have a modified stinger used to smear venom rather than pierce flesh.
• Common Issues: this is a newly described species with no captive care data, success is uncertain, their tiny size makes escape likely without fine mesh barriers, no information on diet acceptance, feeding may be challenging, slow growth or failure to thrive is possible due to unknown requirements

Species Discovery and Naming

Myrmecina camellia was described in 2020,making it one of the newest ant species available to antkeepers. It was discovered in the Hatikhuli Organic Tea Estate in Assam, India, by researchers S. Sheela and S.I. Kazmi ^[1]. The species name 'camellia' comes from Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, because these ants were found living exclusively beneath tea bush roots ^[1]. The type specimens were collected on December 1st,2016 ^[1]. This recent discovery means captive breeding information is essentially nonexistent, you would be pioneering the husbandry of this species.

Appearance and Identification

Workers are tiny at 2.98mm total length, making them one of the smaller ant species kept in captivity ^[1]. Their coloration is distinctive: the head, mesosoma, and gaster are reddish brown, while the petiole, postpetiole, and antennae are lighter brown. Their mandibles and legs are honey yellow ^[1]. The most striking physical features are the coarse longitudinal striations running along the head and mesosoma, and the abundant long erect hairs covering their body ^[1][2]. They have 12-segmented antennae and propodeal spines on the rear of their mesosoma ^[1].

Natural History

What makes Myrmecina camellia unusual is that researchers never observed workers above the soil surface, they appear fully adapted to an underground existence ^[1]. This differs from many other ant species that forage openly. They were found widely distributed throughout tea gardens, living beneath tea plant roots ^[1]. This cryptic lifestyle suggests they may be sensitive to light and prefer dark, humid conditions. Their diet in the wild is unknown, but Myrmecina species typically feed on small invertebrates, honeydew, and plant matter ^[3]. The fact they live in tea gardens suggests they prefer warm, humid, shaded conditions with access to soil substrate.

Housing and Nesting

Since this species lives underground beneath tea plants in the wild, a naturalistic setup with soil or a plaster nest with small chambers would be most appropriate. Their tiny size means you should use very narrow passages and small chambers scaled to their 3mm body length. Because they never come above ground in nature, they likely prefer darkness and may be stressed by bright light, consider using a nest with red glass or keeping it in a shaded area. Escape prevention is critical due to their small size. Standard test tube barriers may not be sufficient, use fine mesh and tight-fitting lids. A layer of moist soil or coconut fiber as substrate will help maintain humidity. ^[1]

Feeding and Diet

The diet of Myrmecina camellia has not been documented in scientific literature. Based on typical Myrmecina behavior, they likely accept small protein sources like micro-arthropods, springtails, or fruit flies ^[3]. They may also feed on honeydew from aphids or sugar water. Start by offering small live prey items appropriate to their tiny size, wingless fruit flies, pinhead crickets, or freshly killed mealworms cut into small pieces. Sugar water or honey water can be offered occasionally. Because this species is so newly discovered, be prepared to experiment with different foods and document what works.

Temperature and Humidity

No specific thermal data exists for this species, but Assam in northeastern India has a subtropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. Assume they prefer warm conditions in the range of 22-28°C, which is typical for tropical ants. A heating cable on one side of the nest can create a temperature gradient, allowing the ants to choose their preferred zone. Humidity should be moderate to high, their underground lifestyle in tea garden soil suggests they need consistently moist substrate. Monitor for condensation and rehydrate when the substrate surface begins drying. Avoid both excessive dryness and waterlogging.

Challenges and Considerations

This species is NOT recommended for beginners due to the complete lack of captive care data. You would essentially be pioneering the husbandry of Myrmecina camellia, which carries significant risk of failure. The biggest challenges are: no established feeding protocols, unknown temperature and humidity requirements, no data on colony growth rates, and no information on whether they can be housed in standard test tubes or need specialized setups. If you attempt to keep this species, document everything carefully, your observations could become valuable information for future antkeepers. Consider starting with a small colony and be prepared for slow growth or potential failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References