Mycetomoellerius agudensis

Mycetomoellerius agudensis

Mycetomoellerius agudensis is a small fungus-growing ant from the Brazilian Cerrado. Workers are tiny ants with distinctive spines and projections on their body, including pronotal spines and mesonotal projections. They belong to the Attini tribe, meaning they cultivate fungus as their primary food source, the colony feeds their fungus garden with plant material and the fungus itself provides their nutrition. This species was originally described as Mycetomoellerius agudensis in 1967 and was reclassified to Mycetomoellerius in 2019. They are found in the southern Brazilian Cerrado, with specimens collected from São Paulo and Uberlândia ^[1][2][3].

What makes this species interesting is its membership in the Urichi group and its specialized fungus-farming lifestyle. Like other Attini, these ants have a mutualistic relationship with a specific fungus that they cultivate in underground chambers. The workers have characteristic spines and projections on their exoskeleton, with short propodeal spines and well-developed mesonotal projections ^[3]. This is a rarely-encountered species in the hobby, making it an interesting choice for antkeepers wanting something different from common Lasius or Camponotus species.

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Native to the Brazilian Cerrado in southeastern Brazil. Found in Campo Cerrado habitat at low elevations. The species was originally described from São Paulo state (Agudos) and later recorded from Uberlândia in Minas Gerais, extending its known range by about 4 degrees of latitude ^[4][2]. The Cerrado is a tropical savanna with distinct wet and dry seasons.
• Colony Type: Unknown colony structure. Like other Attini, likely forms single-queen colonies (monogyne) but this has not been confirmed for this specific species. Fungus-growing ants typically have specialized queen-fungus relationships where the queen carries a fungal pellet during the nuptial flight to start a new garden.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Estimated 5-7mm based on related Mycetomoellerius species
  • Worker: Estimated 3-5mm based on genus patterns
  • Colony: Likely reaches several hundred workers based on typical Attini colony sizes
  • Growth: Moderate, fungus-growing ants typically grow more slowly than generalist ants because they must cultivate their fungal crop first
  • Development: Estimated 8-12 weeks based on related Trachymyrmex species at optimal temperature (Development time depends on temperature and fungus garden health. First workers (nanitics) are typically smaller than mature workers.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep around 24-28°C. These are tropical ants from the Brazilian Cerrado that prefer warm conditions. Use a heating cable on one side of the nest to create a gradient if room temperature falls below this range.
  • Humidity: Moderate to high humidity (60-80%). The fungus garden needs consistent moisture. Keep the nest substrate moist but not waterlogged, with some drier areas available for the ants to regulate their own conditions.
  • Diapause: Likely no true diapause. The Brazilian Cerrado has seasonal rainfall patterns (wet summer, dry winter), so the colony may reduce activity during the dry season but probably does not require hibernation like temperate species.
  • Nesting: Use a nest with chambers that can accommodate a fungus garden. Y-tong (AAC) nests or plaster nests work well for fungus-growing ants. The nest should have a dedicated chamber for the fungus garden and enough space for the colony to expand. Provide a water reservoir to maintain humidity.
• Behavior: Workers are small and relatively docile. As fungus farmers, they are not aggressive and do not have a painful sting. They are escape risks due to their small size, use fine mesh and tight-fitting barriers. Workers forage for plant material to feed their fungus garden, not for insect prey. They are primarily active in the evening and night in their natural habitat.
• Common Issues: Fungus garden failure is the most serious issue, if the fungus dies, the colony will starve. Keep the fungus healthy with proper humidity and appropriate substrate., Small size makes escape prevention critical, they can squeeze through tiny gaps. Use fine mesh barriers and check all connections., Overfeeding can cause mold problems in the nest. Remove uneaten plant material promptly., Slow growth can frustrate beginners, fungus cultivation takes time and the colony prioritizes fungus expansion before producing many workers., Maintaining proper humidity without causing mold is challenging, balance moisture levels carefully.

Fungus Farming Basics

Mycetomoellerius agudensis belongs to the Attini tribe, a group of ants that has evolved a unique agricultural symbiosis with fungi. Unlike most ants that feed on insects or honeydew, these ants cultivate fungus gardens for food. The queen carries a small piece of fungal mycelium during her nuptial flight, which she uses to start a new garden in the founding chamber. The workers forage for plant material (leaves, flowers, fruit) to feed the fungus, and the fungus itself provides nutrition for the entire colony. This mutualistic relationship is so specialized that the fungus cannot survive without the ants, and the ants cannot survive without their specific fungal cultivar. In captivity, you will need to provide appropriate plant material for the ants to feed their fungus. Dry leaf litter, small pieces of fruit, or flower petals work well. The key to success with this species is keeping the fungus garden healthy, if the fungus dies, the colony will starve. Maintain consistent humidity and remove any moldy or decaying material promptly. ^[1][3]

Nest Setup and Housing

These ants require a nest that can accommodate a fungus garden chamber. Y-tong (AAC) nests or plaster nests work well because they allow you to control humidity levels. The nest should have a dedicated chamber for the fungus garden that stays consistently moist. Provide a water reservoir or moisture chamber connected to the main nest area. Because they are small ants, the chambers should be appropriately sized, not too large, as this can make it difficult for the ants to maintain the fungus garden. An outworld area for foraging should be connected to the nest, where you can place plant material for the workers to collect. Use a test tube setup for the founding colony, then move to a proper formicarium once the colony reaches 20-30 workers. Escape prevention is critical due to their small size, use fine mesh barriers on all openings.

Feeding and Nutrition

The diet for M. agudensis is quite different from typical ant species. Instead of sugar water or insects, you should provide plant material for the fungus garden. Offer small pieces of dry leaf litter, flower petals, fruit scraps, or grass clippings. The workers will cut these into smaller pieces and bring them into the fungus chamber. Remove uneaten plant material before it molds, mold can kill the fungus garden. Some keepers also offer very small amounts of diluted honey or sugar water occasionally, but plant material is the primary food source. Do not overfeed, excess food leads to mold problems. The frequency of feeding depends on the colony size and fungus garden health. Start with small amounts and adjust based on how quickly the material is consumed.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep the nest at 24-28°C for optimal colony health and fungus growth. These are tropical ants from the Brazilian Cerrado that prefer warm, stable temperatures. A heating cable placed on one side of the nest can create a gentle temperature gradient. For humidity, aim for 60-80% relative humidity in the nest area. The fungus garden needs consistent moisture to thrive. Use a water reservoir or moisture chamber connected to the nest to maintain humidity without having to mist directly. Check the substrate regularly, it should feel moist but not waterlogged. Allow some areas of the nest to be slightly drier so the ants can regulate their own conditions. Avoid temperature or humidity fluctuations, as these stress the colony and can damage the fungus. ^[4]

Growth and Development

Fungus-growing ants typically grow more slowly than generalist ant species because they must first establish their fungal crop before investing heavily in worker production. A newly founded colony may take several months to produce its first workers (nanitics). The queen will tend the initial fungus garden while raising the first brood. Once workers emerge, they take over fungus maintenance and foraging, allowing the colony to grow faster. Expect moderate growth rates once the colony is established, perhaps a dozen or more workers per month under good conditions. The colony will continue expanding its fungus garden while increasing worker numbers. Maximum colony size is not well documented for this species but likely reaches several hundred workers based on related Attini. Be patient, the slow growth is normal for fungus-farming ants.

Frequently Asked Questions

References