Platythyrea micans

Platythyrea micans

Platythyrea micans is a small, slender ant native to Western Australia. Workers are a uniform dark brown color with a relatively delicate build and weakly shining surface. They have very short standing hairs and a tidy layer of appressed pubescence. This species is one of the more common Platythyrea species in southwestern Australia, where they inhabit Jarrah-Marri woodland and mallee regions around Perth and east to Esperance. Workers are typically found foraging on the ground and up tree trunks.

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Western Australia, primarily around Perth and south to Esperance. They live in Jarrah-Marri woodland, mallee, and sandplain habitats ^[1][2].
• Colony Type: Colony structure is unconfirmed. Multiple queens have not been documented in collected colonies.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, no measurements found in available literature
  • Worker: Unknown, no measurements found in available literature
  • Colony: Unknown, colony size has not been documented
  • Growth: Unknown, growth rate has not been studied
  • Development: Unknown, development timeline has not been documented. Based on typical Ponerinae patterns, expect 6-10 weeks at optimal temperature. (No direct data available. Ponerinae ants typically have longer development times than many Myrmicinae species.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep around 22-26°C. Western Australia's climate is Mediterranean with mild winters, so they likely tolerate a range from roughly 18-28°C. Provide a gentle temperature gradient so ants can self-regulate.
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity around 50-70%. Their natural habitat in southwestern Australia includes both woodland and mallee areas that experience dry summers but receive moisture during winter months. Keep the nest substrate slightly moist but allow some drying between waterings.
  • Diapause: Likely not required or minimal. Western Australia has mild winters, and the climate does not experience the harsh cold periods that require extended diapause. However, a brief cool period (2-4 weeks at 15-18°C) during winter months may benefit the colony.
  • Nesting: In nature they nest in soil and rotting wood, with workers found on ground and tree trunks. In captivity, a Y-tong (AAC) nest or plaster nest works well. Provide a small outworld for foraging. They are small ants, so ensure escape prevention is adequate.
• Behavior: Workers are foragers that search for prey on the ground and up vertical surfaces. As Ponerinae, they likely have a stinger for subduing prey, though the sting potency for this species is unknown. They are probably moderately aggressive when defending the colony but not particularly large. Escape risk is present due to their small size, use fine mesh barriers and tight-fitting lids.
• Common Issues: no specific data on colony founding behavior makes initial establishment challenging, escape prevention is critical due to small size, diet acceptance is uncertain, Ponerinae are typically predatory but specific prey preferences are unknown, humidity balance can be tricky, they need moisture but not waterlogged conditions, growth rate is unknown so keepers may overfeed or underfeed expecting rapid growth

Natural History and Distribution

Platythyrea micans is endemic to Western Australia, specifically the southwestern region around Perth and extending east to the Esperance area. They are found in Jarrah-Marri woodland, mallee habitats, and sandplain areas. The species was originally described by Clark in 1930 from specimens collected near Mundaring, east of Perth. Additional specimens have been collected from the Mt. Ragged Thomas River Track east of Esperance. Workers are commonly collected through pitfall traps and by hand from both the ground and tree trunks, indicating they forage actively on multiple surfaces. The species is considered possibly the most common Platythyrea in the region ^[1][2].

Appearance and Identification

Workers are relatively slender and delicately built compared to some other Ponerinae. They are uniformly dark brown throughout their body. The surface is weakly shining rather than highly glossy. They possess very short standing hairs (pilosity) and a neat layer of appressed pubescence. These identification features help distinguish them from other Australian Platythyrea species. The genus Platythyreini is characterized by their distinctly flattened and expanded gaster, which gives them their common name of 'flat-footed ants'. ^[2]

Housing and Nesting

In captivity, Platythyrea micans can be kept in standard ant setups. A Y-tong (acrylic and cotton) nest or plaster nest works well for this species. The nest should have chambers scaled to their small size with narrow passages. Provide a small outworld area for foraging. Since workers are found foraging on both ground and tree trunks in the wild, include some vertical surfaces or structures they can climb. Escape prevention is important, they are small ants that can squeeze through small gaps. Use fine mesh on any ventilation and ensure all connections are secure.

Feeding and Diet

As a Ponerinae ant, Platythyrea micans is likely primarily predatory, feeding on small invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, offer small live prey such as fruit flies, small crickets, mealworms, and other appropriately-sized insects. Protein should make up the majority of their diet. Sugar sources like honey or sugar water may be accepted but are not a primary food source for most Ponerinae. Feed them small prey items 2-3 times per week, adjusting based on colony size and consumption. Remove uneaten prey after 24-48 hours to prevent mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Keep the nest area at roughly 22-26°C, with a slight gradient allowing workers to choose their preferred temperature. Western Australia's southwestern region has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. They likely tolerate temperatures from about 18-28°C. A brief cool period during winter months (2-4 weeks at 15-18°C) may be beneficial but extended diapause is probably not required. Avoid temperatures above 30°C for extended periods. Monitor colony activity, if workers become sluggish, slightly increase temperature, if they avoid the heated area, reduce it.

Colony Establishment

Since founding behavior has not been documented for this species, the best approach is to capture a wild colony or use a dealate queen if found. If keeping a wild-caught colony, ensure you have permission and that the population is sustainable. If you obtain a single queen, she will need a quiet, dark location to establish her colony. Provide a small test tube setup with moist cotton and minimal disturbance. Do not expect rapid growth, Ponerinae colonies typically develop more slowly than many common pet ant species. Be patient during the founding phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

References