Temnothorax kinomurai

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Known from nine locations across Honshu and Shikoku, Japan ^[1]. This species is an obligate social parasite that lives inside nests of Temnothorax makora ^[1]. The host nests in small cavities in rotting wood or under stones, typical of Japanese Temnothorax species (inferred from typical ecology).
• Colony Type: Workerless parasite, colonies consist of 1-3 parasitic queens living among a few dozen host workers of T. makora ^[1]. No workers or males of T. kinomurai exist. Queens occur in two forms: gynomorphic (winged) and intermorphic/ergatoid (wingless) ^[1].
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: ~2.5-3mm (total length) ^[2][3]
  • Worker: N/A, this species produces no workers ^[1]
  • Colony: A few dozen host workers with 1-3 parasitic queens ^[1]
  • Growth: Slow, each generation takes many months and produces only new queens, never workers
  • Development: N/A, no workers produced. Time from egg to new queen is not documented. (Only new queens are produced, never workers or males. This is fundamentally different from all other ant species kept in captivity.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: No specific studies exist. Keep the host colony stable around 20-24°C, with a gentle gradient using a heating cable on one side. Avoid extremes (inferred from typical Temnothorax care).
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity, nest substrate should be damp but not waterlogged. Forest-dwelling ants prefer stable moisture (inferred from typical forest habitat).
  • Diapause: Likely needed, Japanese Temnothorax experience cold winters. Provide a 2-3 month cooling period at 12-15°C, though this has not been directly documented for T. kinomurai.
  • Nesting: The critical challenge: you cannot keep T. kinomurai alone. First establish a healthy host colony of Temnothorax makora, then introduce parasite queens. Use test tubes or small plaster/Y-tong nests with chambers scaled to the tiny size of both species. Narrow entrances prevent escapes.
• Behavior: Extremely docile, the queens have no workers to defend them, relying entirely on host workers. Escape risk is low since they are tiny (2.5-3mm) and do not forage independently. Queens can sting to kill host queens during colony takeover ^[1], but pose no threat to keepers. They are completely dependent on host workers for all brood care and feeding.
• Common Issues: cannot be kept without first establishing a healthy host colony of Temnothorax makora, this is the single biggest challenge., host workers may reject or attack parasite queens, making introduction difficult (only ~17% success in lab ^[1])., thelytokous parthenogenesis means all offspring are genetically identical females, no genetic diversity in captive colonies., very limited availability, known from only 9 locations in Japan, not commonly available., if the host colony dies, the parasitic queens will also die, they cannot survive independently.

The Unique Biology of T. kinomurai

Temnothorax kinomurai pushes social parasitism to an extreme: it produces absolutely no workers or males, only queens ^[1]. This 'workerless parasitism' is exceptionally rare. Queens reproduce through thelytokous parthenogenesis, eggs develop into females without any mating ^[1]. Evidence comes from laboratory rearing in 2022-2024: 24 gynomorphic (winged) and 19 intermorphic (wingless) daughter queens were produced, with no workers or males ^[1]. Ovaries of gynomorphic queens have six ovarioles, while intermorphic queens have four to six ^[1]. Spermathecae are rudimentary and smaller than those of the host, no sperm has ever been found, confirming parthenogenesis ^[1].

Queens exist in two forms that likely represent different colonization strategies. Both can successfully invade host colonies, though only about 17% of introduced queens survive and reproduce in captivity ^[1]. The species is closely related to Temnothorax bikara rather than its host T. makora, suggesting an evolutionary history of host shifts ^[1].

Housing Requirements - The Host Problem

Housing T. kinomurai is fundamentally different from keeping any other ant. You cannot keep it alone, you must first establish and maintain a healthy colony of its host Temnothorax makora ^[1]. Without host workers, the queens cannot feed themselves, care for brood, or survive ^[1].

Set up the host colony in test tubes or a small plaster/Y-tong nest with chambers scaled to the tiny 2-3mm size. Keep the nest at 20-24°C with moderate humidity. Feed the host workers small live prey like fruit flies, springtails, or pinhead crickets, standard fare for small myrmicines.

Introduction of parasite queens is risky. In laboratory settings, only about 17% of introduced queens survived and produced offspring ^[1]. The host workers often attack and kill the intruder. Some success has been reported when introducing queens to younger host colonies or after the host queen has died, but no guaranteed method exists.

Feeding and Nutrition

You feed T. kinomurai indirectly, you feed the host colony, and host workers share resources with the parasitic queens through trophallaxis (mouth-to-mouth feeding) ^[1]. The parasitic queens themselves do not forage, they depend entirely on host workers for food ^[1].

Feed the host colony small live prey 2-3 times per week: fruit flies, pinhead crickets, springtails. Occasionally offer a drop of sugar water or honey, though tiny Temnothorax may not readily accept liquids. Keep the host colony well-fed, because if it is underfed, the parasitic queens will also suffer. There is no need to feed T. kinomurai directly, your focus should be on the host colony's nutrition.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep both host and parasite at similar stable temperatures. No specific studies have been done for this species, but based on typical Temnothorax care, maintain around 20-24°C with a gentle gradient using a heating cable on one side. Avoid extremes, these small ants can quickly overheat or chill.

Japanese Temnothorax experience cold winters, so a diapause period is likely important. During winter (roughly November-February in the Northern Hemisphere), reduce temperatures to 12-15°C for 2-3 months. This has not been directly documented for T. kinomurai, but is inferred from its temperate habitat. Watch colony activity: if host workers become sluggish, the temperature may be too low or the cooling period too long. Stable, moderate conditions are better than fluctuating temperatures.

Reproduction and Propagation

Reproduction is unlike any other ant species you might keep. Queens use thelytokous parthenogenesis, they produce offspring without mating ^[1]. Every egg develops into a female (either gynomorphic or intermorphic queen), never a worker or male.

To found a new colony, a young T. kinomurai queen does not dig a nest or raise her own workers. Instead, she invades an existing Temnothorax makora colony, finds the host queen, and kills her by stinging ^[1]. She then uses the surviving host workers to raise her own offspring ^[1]. In the lab, only 3 out of 43 unmated daughter queens successfully established in new host colonies and produced offspring ^[1]. The success rate is low because host workers may recognize and attack the intruder.

If you maintain a reproducing colony, expect only queen offspring, no workers of T. kinomurai. The colony remains small, limited by the number of host workers available.

Frequently Asked Questions

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References