Myrmoteras mcarthuri

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, too little data to assess
• Origin & Habitat: Endemic to Leyte Island, Philippines. In the wild, they nest under and between stones along riverbanks, specifically along the Calbiga-a River and Lago-Lago River near Baybay at elevations of 50-100m above sea level ^[1]. They are found in leaf litter during both day and night surveys ^[2].
• Colony Type: Unconfirmed, colony structure has not been documented in scientific literature
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, queen has not been described in scientific literature
  • Worker: 4.93-5.27mm ^[1]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data available
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, development has not been studied (No data available on egg-to-worker development time.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Unknown, no thermal studies exist for this species. Based on its Philippine origin (tropical climate), room temperature (24-28°C) is likely suitable.
  • Humidity: Likely requires moderate to high humidity given its riverbank habitat. Keep the nest substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Diapause: Unknown, no seasonal studies exist. As a tropical species from the Philippines, hibernation may not be required.
  • Nesting: In captivity, provide a naturalistic setup with moist substrate. Based on natural nesting behavior (under stones along riverbanks), a Y-tong or plaster nest with damp conditions would likely work well.
• Behavior: Behavior is poorly documented. The genus Myrmoteras is known for their trap-jaw mandibles, though they are not as extreme as in Odontomachus. Workers are foragers and have been found in leaf litter. Escape prevention should be moderate, workers are around 5mm so standard barriers should suffice.
• Common Issues: no documented captive husbandry means trial and error is required., colony size and growth rate are completely unknown making progress tracking difficult., founding behavior is unconfirmed so starting a colony from a queen may not be feasible., no dietary information exists, unknown what foods they accept., tropical origin means temperature and humidity requirements are educated guesses only

Discovery and Taxonomy

Myrmoteras mcarthuri was formally described in 2011 by Zettel and Sorger from specimens collected on Leyte Island in the Philippines. The species was initially mistaken for the related Myrmoteras williamsi, which is known from Luzon and Negros islands. However, careful examination revealed several distinguishing features: M. mcarthuri has granulate sculpture on the posterior face of temples (smooth and shiny in M. williamsi), a higher Mandible Index (145-154 vs 124-130), a wider petiolar node in lateral view, and notably slenderer antenna segments. The species was named in honor of Archie McArthur, a myrmecologist from the South Australia Museum ^[1].

Natural Habitat and Distribution

This species is currently known only from Leyte Island in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. The type locality is along the Calbiga-a River near Baybay, at lower slopes of Mount Pangasugan, at approximately 50-100 meters elevation. Specimens have been collected from under and between stones along riverbanks, and from leaf litter samples taken both during the day and night ^[1][2]. The riverbank habitat suggests preference for moist, shaded microenvironments. No information exists on colony size in the wild or the species' geographic range beyond Leyte Island.

Identification and Morphology

Workers of Myrmoteras mcarthuri measure 4.93-5.27mm in total length. They are medium brown in color, with the gaster slightly lighter than the head and mesosoma. The most distinctive features are the extremely long, slender mandibles (Mandible Index 145-154) and the slender antenna funiculus, where each segment is about twice as long as broad. The dorsum of the head is densely granulate and dull. The mesonotum is strongly depressed, and the dorsum of the propodeum is strongly convex. The middle tibia is weakly dilated, more than 5 times as long as wide. These morphological features distinguish it from similar species like M. williamsi ^[1].

Keeping Myrmoteras mcarthuri in Captivity

Unfortunately, there is no established husbandry information for this species. It is one of the least-studied ants in the antkeeping hobby, with virtually no captive breeding records or care documentation. Based on its natural habitat (tropical riverbanks in the Philippines), you should aim for warm temperatures (24-28°C) and moderate to high humidity. A naturalistic setup with moist substrate would best approximate its natural conditions. Start with standard antkeeping practices and observe your colony's behavior, if workers cluster in cooler or warmer areas of the nest, adjust accordingly. Feeding should begin with small live prey (fruit flies, pinhead crickets) and sugar water, but acceptance is completely unconfirmed for this species. This is truly a species for advanced antkeepers willing to document and share their findings with the hobby.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References