Myrmica hirsuta - "Hairy Social Parasite Ant"
Myrmica hirsuta is a fascinating and rare ant species, notable for its unique social parasitic lifestyle. These ants are obligate social parasites, primarily relying on colonies of Myrmica sabuleti (and sometimes Myrmica lonae in Northern Europe) for their survival. Queens and males of Myrmica hirsuta are quite similar to their host species but are generally smaller, more robust, and possess an abundance of exceptionally long, standing body hairs, which gives them their 'hirsuta' (hairy) name. The queen can be further distinguished by an enlarged post-petiole and a wider frons. While initially thought to be workerless, small numbers of Myrmica hirsuta workers have occasionally been observed in host nests, though they are rare.
- Difficulty: Expert
- Origin & Habitat: Europe in Warm grassland sites, typically where their Myrmica host colonies are found. They commonly infest host nests found under stones..
- Colony Type: Parasitic (obligate social parasite), temporary parasitic (queen invades another species' nest) founding.
- Size & Growth:
- Queen: 5.2mm+
- Worker: Not specified
- Colony: Small (hundreds of host workers, very few or no M. hirsuta workers). Slow, as their growth is tied to the host colony's success and their own rare worker production. growth.
- Antkeeping:
- Temperature: Mimic host species' preferences; generally room temperature (21-24°C) is suitable for Myrmica species, with a gradient allowing them to choose warmer spots (around 25°C)..
- Humidity: High humidity (50-70%) is crucial, similar to their Myrmica host species. Regular hydration of the nest is necessary to prevent desiccation..
- Diapause: Required. 4-5 months at 5-10°C.
- Nesting: Artificial nests should mimic natural underground conditions, ideally allowing for a humidity gradient. Ytong or naturalistic soil/sand setups are suitable, but maintaining consistent high humidity is key. Test tubes with outworlds are appropriate for smaller setups..
- Behavior: Medium (Myrmica species are generally aggressive and can sting. While M. hirsuta workers are rare, host workers are aggressive.) aggressiveness.
- Common Issues: Failure to integrate with host colony, Host colony rejection of parasitic queen, Maintaining host colony health, Humidity fluctuations, Mold in nest, Mites, Queen stress.
Keeping Myrmica hirsuta is an advanced endeavor due to their obligate social parasitic nature. These queens do not found colonies independently; instead, they must infiltrate an existing Myrmica sabuleti (or Myrmica lonae) colony. This means successful founding requires acquiring an infested host colony or carefully introducing a Myrmica hirsuta queen to a host colony. The low natural infestation rate of host colonies, typically around 1 in 50-100, highlights the difficulty of establishing these unique parasitic colonies in captivity.
Unlike many ant species, Myrmica hirsuta queens have been observed to produce two types of offspring. Larger larvae overwinter and develop into new, fully reproductive queens the following spring. Smaller larvae, however, either develop quickly into infertile intercastes (winged workers) in the same summer or overwinter to become infertile or sub-fertile small queens. This unusual caste determination within the parasite species adds another layer of complexity to their biology and care.
The presence of workers in Myrmica hirsuta colonies is exceptionally rare. While initially believed to be workerless, a few workers have been documented in infested host nests. These workers are often described as pseudogynes or reduced versions of the Myrmica hirsuta female. Their scarcity means that the host workers perform the vast majority of foraging and brood care, making the health and stability of the host colony paramount for the Myrmica hirsuta queen's success.
Myrmica hirsuta queens can influence their host colony's dynamics. Research suggests that these parasitic queens may be able to suppress the sexual development of their host's larvae, while their own larvae remain unaffected. This intriguing biological mechanism allows the Myrmica hirsuta queen to ensure her own reproductive success within the host colony, potentially by reducing competition for resources for sexuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a Myrmica hirsuta colony in antkeeping?
Starting a Myrmica hirsuta colony is quite challenging due to their parasitic nature. You'll typically need an existing Myrmica sabuleti (or Myrmica lonae) host colony, as Myrmica hirsuta queens are obligate social parasites and cannot found a colony on their own. The most common approach is to acquire an already infested host colony, or attempt to introduce a Myrmica hirsuta queen to a healthy host colony, which requires advanced techniques and has a low success rate. Finding these queens can be tricky, as they're often trapped from August to October in their natural habitat.
What kind of enclosure is best for Myrmica hirsuta?
Since Myrmica hirsuta relies on a host colony, the enclosure needs to accommodate the host species, Myrmica sabuleti. Myrmica ants thrive in setups that allow for high humidity, typically around 50-70%. Naturalistic setups like Ytong nests or tubs with soil and sand are excellent choices. Ensuring good hydration with a consistently moist substrate is key. For smaller colonies, a test tube setup connected to a foraging area can work well. Remember, proper ventilation is crucial to prevent mold.
What do Myrmica hirsuta colonies eat?
Myrmica hirsuta queens and their rare workers rely on the host colony for food. The host ants, Myrmica sabuleti, are generalist foragers. In captivity, this means providing a varied diet of sugary liquids like sugar water or honey water, along with protein sources such as small insects (fruit flies, mealworms, crickets). Always ensure any feeder insects are captive-bred or frozen/boiled to prevent introducing diseases or mites. Since Myrmica ants often have a small social stomach, frequent small feedings are better than large, infrequent ones.
Do Myrmica hirsuta require diapause (hibernation)?
Yes, like most temperate Myrmica species, Myrmica hirsuta requires a diapause period. This is essential for the long-term health and reproductive success of the colony. The diapause should ideally last for about 4-5 months during the winter, with temperatures around 5-10°C. This mimics their natural overwintering conditions.
Are Myrmica hirsuta queens workerless?
While Myrmica hirsuta was initially described as a workerless social parasite, subsequent observations have confirmed that they do produce a small number of workers, albeit rarely. These workers are often smaller and can be distinguished from host workers by their unique characteristics, like increased hairiness. However, the host workers perform the vast majority of the colony's tasks, making the Myrmica hirsuta worker caste more of a curious exception than a functional necessity.
What is the typical size of a Myrmica hirsuta colony?
A Myrmica hirsuta 'colony' technically refers to the parasitic queen and her offspring living within a host Myrmica sabuleti colony. The size will be largely dictated by the host colony, which typically ranges from hundreds to sometimes over a thousand workers. The number of actual Myrmica hirsuta individuals (queens and rare workers) will be very small in comparison.
How aggressive are Myrmica hirsuta ants?
Myrmica hirsuta itself is not known for direct aggression towards handlers, as their workers are extremely rare. However, their host species, Myrmica sabuleti, are known to be quite aggressive and can sting. Therefore, when handling an infested colony, expect typical Myrmica aggression from the host workers.
What are the key differences between Myrmica hirsuta and its host Myrmica sabuleti?
Myrmica hirsuta queens and males are generally smaller, more robust, and significantly hairier than their Myrmica sabuleti counterparts. Myrmica hirsuta queens also have a distinctively enlarged post-petiole and a wider frons. While Myrmica sabuleti workers are common and active, Myrmica hirsuta workers are extremely rare and often appear as reduced versions of the queen, further highlighting the parasitic relationship.
What challenges should I expect when keeping Myrmica hirsuta?
The primary challenge is establishing and maintaining the parasitic relationship. This involves successfully introducing the queen to a host colony, ensuring host colony acceptance, and then providing optimal care for the host species. Issues like mold due to high humidity, mites, or queen stress (either parasitic or host) can also be common. Given their rarity and specific needs, these are truly for expert antkeepers.
When do Myrmica hirsuta queens typically fly?
Myrmica hirsuta alates (winged queens and males) can be found in their host nests from mid-July. Their nuptial flights typically occur from mid-August to early September. After mating, the fertile queens will seek out host Myrmica sabuleti colonies to infiltrate.
Can Myrmica hirsuta queens suppress their host's brood development?
Yes, research indicates that Myrmica hirsuta queens possess the ability to suppress the sexual development of their host colony's larvae. This is a fascinating adaptation that allows the parasitic queen to reduce competition for resources, thereby promoting the development of her own offspring, which seem to be 'immune' to this queen effect.
What kind of temperature gradient is ideal for Myrmica species?
Myrmica species, including the hosts of Myrmica hirsuta, generally prefer nest temperatures between 21-24°C, but they also benefit from a temperature gradient. Providing a warmer section of the nest, perhaps around 25°C, allows the ants to thermoregulate and move their brood to the optimal temperature zones as needed. It's crucial to ensure that any heating doesn't compromise humidity levels, as these ants are prone to desiccation.
