Mycetophylax plaumanni

Mycetophylax plaumanni

Mycetophylax plaumanni is a tiny fungus-farming ant from southern Brazil. Workers measure just 3.2-3.4mm and are dark brown with an opaque appearance. This species belongs to the tribe Attini, the fungus-growing ants that cultivate specialized fungi for food. The genus Mycetophylax contains several species all native to South America, particularly Brazil. These ants are part of the leafcutter ant group (though not true Atta leafcutters) and have a close relationship with the fungus they cultivate.

This species is known only from a handful of specimens collected in the 1950s-1960s in southern Brazil, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná states. It appears to be a habitat specialist found only in primary forest, never in secondary growth or modified landscapes ^[1]. This makes it one of the rarer and less-studied fungus-farming ants in captivity.

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Unknown, likely Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Southern Brazil (Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná states). Found in primary Atlantic Forest at elevations around 1000m ^[2]. This is a primary forest specialist that has never been recorded in secondary forest or human-modified landscapes ^[1].
• Colony Type: Unknown colony structure. No data on whether colonies have single or multiple queens. Related Mycetophylax species are typically small colonies.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, not described in original description
  • Worker: 3.2-3.4mm
  • Colony: Unknown, likely small based on related species
  • Growth: Unknown
  • Development: Unknown, estimate 6-10 weeks based on related fungus-farming ants (No direct development data exists. Related Cyphomyrmex species suggest 6-10 weeks at warm temperatures. This is a rough estimate only.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep warm, aim for 24-28°C based on genus patterns for Neotropical fungus-farming ants. Room temperature (20-24°C) is acceptable if your home is in this range.
  • Humidity: High humidity is essential. Fungus-farming ants need consistently moist substrate, think damp forest floor. Keep nest substrate moist but not waterlogged. Provide a water tube for drinking.
  • Diapause: Unknown, likely minimal or no true diapause given the tropical/subtropical origin. Southern Brazil (27-33°S) has mild winters but ants may reduce activity in cooler months.
  • Nesting: Use a moist nest setup, plaster, acrylic, or Y-tong work well. Provide tight chambers as these are tiny ants. The key is maintaining humidity for the fungus garden.
• Behavior: Very poorly documented. Based on related Cyphomyrmex and Mycetophylax species, they are likely docile, slow-moving ants that tend their fungus gardens quietly. They are not aggressive and unlikely to sting. Escape risk is moderate due to their small size, use standard barriers. They are cryptic and spend most time underground tending their fungal culture.
• Common Issues: This species is virtually unknown in captivity, finding a colony may be impossible, No captive breeding data exists, we cannot confirm they can be kept long-term, Primary forest specialists may be extremely sensitive to habitat changes, Tiny size makes escape prevention important despite docile nature, The fungus they cultivate may have specific nutritional needs we cannot determine

Fungus-Farming Basics

Mycetophylax plaumanni belongs to the tribe Attini, the fungus-growing ants. Unlike most ants that eat protein or sugar, Attini cultivate specialized fungi for food. The queen carries a small fungal pellet when she founds a new colony, planting it in the founding chamber and tending it until her first workers emerge. In captivity, you must provide a substitute fungal food source. This is the biggest challenge with keeping fungus-farming ants. Commercial fungal substrate exists but may not be appropriate for this specific species. Some keepers report success with specialized fungus-growing ant diets, but this species has never been kept in captivity to our knowledge. The fundamental challenge is that we don't know exactly what fungus this species cultivates or what it needs to survive long-term.

Distribution and Habitat

This species is known only from southern Brazil, specifically Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraná states. All specimens were collected by the legendary ant collector Friedrich Plaumann between 1959-1960 at elevations around 1000m in the Atlantic Forest region ^[2]. The type locality is Nova Teutônia in Santa Catarina. Critically, this species has only been found in primary (old-growth) forest, it has never been recorded in secondary forest or human-modified landscapes like rubber plantations ^[1]. This makes it a true habitat specialist. In Brazil's Atlantic Forest, which is highly fragmented, such specialists are particularly vulnerable. The species has also been recorded in some urban areas in western Santa Catarina (Chapecó, Joaçaba, Palmitos, Seara) ^[3], though these records may represent scattered individuals rather than established populations.

Why This Species Is Rare in Captivity

Mycetophylax plaumanni is one of the least-studied ant species in the world. It is known only from about 5 worker specimens collected in the 1950s-1960s. No one has documented its colony structure, queen appearance, nuptial flights, or basic biology. The original description from 1964 provides worker measurements and diagnostic features, but nothing about how they live. This species has never been observed in captivity, and there are no captive breeding records. For antkeepers, this means keeping M. plaumanni would be essentially experimental, we have no proven care protocol. Related species in Mycetophylax and Cyphomyrmex are occasionally kept, but this particular species has never made it into the antkeeping hobby. If you're interested in fungus-farming ants, more commonly kept species like Cyphomyrmex rimosus or other Attini would be better choices. ^[2]

Related Species as Care Guides

Since direct data on M. plaumanni is nonexistent, we must infer care from related fungus-farming ants. The genus Mycetophylax is closely related to Cyphomyrmex, and both are in the tribe Attini. These ants are typically small (2-5mm), live in small colonies, and require high humidity to maintain their fungal gardens. They are not aggressive and rarely leave the nest. Based on patterns from related species: queens likely seal themselves in during founding (claustral), colonies probably max out at 50-200 workers, and they need warm, humid conditions. The critical unknown is what fungus substitute they will accept. Some Cyphomyrmex species have been kept on commercial fungal diets, but success varies. If you obtain this species, expect a steep learning curve with significant trial and error. This is not a species for beginners, it represents the frontier of antkeeping knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

References