Dolichoderus reflexus

Dolichoderus reflexus - "Sharkfined Dolly Ant"

Dolichoderus reflexus is a small, reddish-brown ant native to southern Australia. Workers measure around 3-4mm with a distinctive body shape featuring a highly arched propodeum (the section behind the thorax) that creates an exaggerated concave appearance. Their head is dark while the body ranges from yellow-red to dark red-brown, and they have sparse hairs on the abdomen and legs. This species lives in mallee woodlands and creates nests in soil with characteristic crater-like entrances. They are diurnal foragers that travel in columns, searching for honeydew from aphids and other small insects on low vegetation and trees. While widespread across southern Australia, they are nowhere common and are considered a rare find for antkeepers.

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Southern Australia, primarily in mallee woodland habitats. Nests in soil with crater entrances, typically under rocks or in rotten wood ^[1].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is not well-documented in scientific literature. Based on typical Dolichoderus patterns, likely single-queen colonies, though this requires confirmation.
  • Colony: Monogyne
  • Founding: Claustral
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Estimated 6-8mm based on genus patterns, direct measurements not available
  • Worker: 3-4mm (HL 0.85-1.02mm, HW 0.71-0.91mm) ^[1]
  • Colony: Likely small to moderate colonies, exact maximum unknown
  • Growth: Unknown, no development studies available
  • Development: Estimated 6-8 weeks based on typical Dolichoderus development at optimal temperature (Development time is inferred from genus-level data since species-specific studies are not available)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 22-26°C. Australian species from temperate regions can tolerate a range, but avoid extremes. Room temperature within this range works well.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity around 50-70%. Keep nest substrate slightly moist but not waterlogged. These ants nest in soil that would dry out between rain events in their natural habitat.
  • Diapause: Likely requires a winter rest period (diapause) given their southern Australian distribution. Reduce temperature to 15-18°C for 2-3 months during winter.
  • Nesting: Soil-based nests work best. Use a naturalistic setup with soil substrate, or a Y-tong/plaster nest with moisture chambers. They nest under rocks or in rotten wood in the wild, so include some cover in the outworld.
• Behavior: These ants are diurnal and relatively peaceful. Workers forage in columns on the ground and low vegetation, tending aphids for honeydew. They are general scavengers and will accept various foods. Escape risk is moderate, they are small but not extremely tiny, so standard barriers should suffice. They are not aggressive and rarely bite.
• Common Issues: limited availability, this species is rarely collected and not commonly available in the antkeeping hobby, colony founding difficulty, wild-caught queens may be hard to find given their sparse populations, specific habitat requirements, they need soil nests with proper moisture retention, limited dietary data, may be selective about food acceptance in captivity, escape prevention, small size means gaps in equipment must be sealed properly

Housing and Nest Setup

Dolichoderus reflexus requires a soil-based nesting environment. In the wild, they nest in soil with characteristic crater-like entrances, often under rocks or in rotting wood. For captivity, a naturalistic setup with a soil chamber works best, or you can use a Y-tong/plaster nest with moisture retention capabilities. The outworld should include some form of cover like small stones or leaf litter since they naturally forage under some cover. These ants are not aggressive and can be housed in standard formicarium setups, but ensure all connections are sealed since workers are small enough to escape through tiny gaps. ^[1]

Feeding and Diet

In the wild, these ants are general scavengers that also tend aphids and other Hemiptera for honeydew. They forage in columns on the ground and on low vegetation. In captivity, offer a varied diet including sugar water or honey as an energy source, and protein sources like small insects (fruit flies, small mealworms, crickets). Since they naturally tend Hemiptera, they likely have a sweet tooth, keep a constant sugar water source available. Feed protein 2-3 times per week and remove uneaten prey after 24 hours.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Maintain temperatures between 22-26°C for optimal colony activity. As a southern Australian species, they are adapted to temperate conditions with seasonal variation. During winter, provide a diapause period by reducing temperatures to 15-18°C for 2-3 months. This mimics their natural seasonal cycle and helps maintain colony health. Avoid temperatures below 10°C or above 30°C. A heating cable on one side of the nest can create a gradient if your room temperature runs cool, but ensure they can move to cooler areas if needed.

Behavior and Foraging

Dolichoderus reflexus workers are diurnal and forage in columns, traveling along established trails on the ground and up into vegetation. This is an active species that will establish clear foraging routes. They are generalist feeders but show a preference for honeydew from sap-sucking insects. Workers are relatively peaceful and unlikely to bite, making them easy to handle. They are not known for being escape artists in the same way as extremely tiny ants, but standard barrier methods like fluon on container rims should still be used.

Colony Establishment

This species is rarely collected and not commonly available in the antkeeping hobby, making colony establishment challenging. If you obtain a founding queen, she will likely seal herself in a claustral chamber and raise the first brood alone, as is typical for Dolichoderus species. The founding chamber should be kept dark and undisturbed. Expect 6-8 weeks for the first workers (nanitics) to emerge, though this is estimated based on genus patterns. Wild colonies appear to be small to moderate in size, so do not expect the massive colonies seen in some other genera.

Frequently Asked Questions

References