Temnothorax muellerianus

Temnothorax muellerianus

Temnothorax muellerianus is a small yellowish-brown ant known for its slave-making behavior. Workers measure around 3-4mm and have distinctive tooth-like projections on the underside of their body segments, plus abundant long hairs covering their body including the legs ^[1]. This species was formerly classified as Temnothorax muellerianus before being reclassified into the genus Temnothorax in 2015 ^[2]. It is an obligate social parasite, meaning it cannot survive without a host colony of other Temnothorax species to do its work ^[3]. The species ranges across the Mediterranean region from Spain and Portugal through France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, with records also from Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Switzerland ^[4][5].

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Expert
• Origin & Habitat: Mediterranean region, found in dry, sunny localities, rock crevices, under stones, and occasionally in arboreal nests. In the Iberian Peninsula, it prefers higher altitudes (over 1000m) in forested areas ^[6]. On Crete, infected nests were found in very dry and sunny locations ^[7]. Recorded from sea level up to 1587m altitude in Greece ^[1].
• Colony Type: Monogyne (single queen) obligate slave-maker. Colonies consist of one parasite queen plus a few dozen parasite workers, supported by a large number of enslaved host workers from Temnothorax species ^[8]. The queen kills or drives out the adult host workers and keeps only the brood to raise as slaves ^[9].
  • Colony: Monogyne
  • Queen: Parasitic
  • Special: Slave-making
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Queens are 3.5-4mm (HL 0.873-0.903mm) ^[1]. Signal: from species measurements.
  • Worker: Workers are 2.5-3.5mm (HL 0.715-0.888mm) ^[1]. Signal: from species measurements.
  • Colony: Small colonies, typically a few dozen parasite workers plus many host workers ^[8]. Signal: from field observations.
  • Growth: Moderate, based on typical Temnothorax development. Signal: inferred from genus patterns.
  • Development: Unknown, direct development data not available. Signal: unconfirmed. (Development timeline has not been directly studied. Based on typical Temnothorax patterns, expect 6-10 weeks at room temperature.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at room temperature (18-24°C). This species is found in Mediterranean climates with moderate temperatures. In the Iberian Peninsula, it occurs at higher altitudes in forests, suggesting it prefers cooler conditions than typical desert ants. Signal: inferred from distribution data ^[6].
  • Humidity: Moderate humidity. In nature, they nest in rock crevices and under stones in areas that can be quite dry. Avoid overly damp conditions. Signal: inferred from nesting habitat ^[7][10].
  • Diapause: Yes, likely requires a winter rest period similar to other temperate Temnothorax species. Signal: inferred from genus patterns and Mediterranean distribution.
  • Nesting: Prefers tight spaces, rock crevices, small cavities under stones, or narrow passages in naturalistic setups. Y-tong nests with narrow chambers work well. They need a host colony present to survive long-term. Signal: inferred from natural nesting behavior ^[10].
• Behavior: This is a specialized slave-making ant. Workers conduct raids on nearby Temnothorax colonies, stealing brood to raise as enslaved workers. They imprint on the host species they were raised with and preferentially raid colonies of that same species ^[11]. Workers do not capture adult hosts during raids, only the brood is taken ^[9]. The queen enters a host colony, evicts all adult host ants, and keeps only the host brood to raise as future slaves ^[9]. This species is not aggressive toward humans and cannot sting effectively. Escape risk is moderate, they're small but not as tiny as some other Temnothorax. Signal: from behavioral studies ^[9][11][12].
• Common Issues: Cannot survive without a host colony, this is the primary challenge. You must maintain both the parasite and a suitable host Temnothorax species., Host species may be difficult to obtain and maintain, common hosts like T. unifasciatus or T. tuberum have specific care requirements., Colony failure is common if the host workers die out, the parasite workers cannot forage for themselves and rely entirely on slaves., Finding a queen with a host colony is extremely difficult, most antkeepers cannot legally obtain this species., Slow colony growth due to small colony size and dependence on host reproduction.

What Makes This Species Unique

Temnothorax muellerianus is a slave-making ant, one of roughly six independent origins of slavery in the Formicoxenini ant tribe ^[13]. Unlike typical ants that do their own work, this species relies entirely on enslaved workers from other Temnothorax species to survive. The parasite queen invades a host colony, kills or drives out the adult host ants, and uses the remaining host brood to raise a workforce of slaves ^[9]. This creates a fascinating dynamic where you essentially need to keep two ant species to keep one. The species shows strong preference for certain host species, particularly Temnothorax unifasciatus, which is its most common host in the wild ^[9][14]. Workers imprint on their host species as larvae and preferentially raid colonies of that same species when they mature ^[11]. This makes them fascinating for studying social parasitism but extremely challenging to keep.

Housing and Setup

You cannot keep T. muellerianus alone, you must maintain a host colony simultaneously. This is not optional, it's biological requirement. The setup should include two connected sections: one housing the host colony and one for the parasite. The host species typically nests in rock crevices, under stones, or in small cavities, so a naturalistic setup with flat stones or a Y-tong nest with narrow chambers works well for both ^[10]. The connection between nests allows for raids, which is how the species naturally operates. However, you must ensure the host colony remains strong enough to sustain both populations. Many antkeepers find this setup impractical because managing two colonies that must interact is complex and risky. If the host workers die, the parasite colony will perish.

Feeding and Diet

The enslaved host workers do all the foraging and feeding. In captivity, you would feed the host colony standard ant foods: sugar water or honey for energy, and small insects like fruit flies or pinhead crickets for protein. The parasite workers typically stay in the nest and are fed by the slaves through trophallaxis (mouth-to-mouth food sharing). You should not expect to see parasite workers foraging for food, this is handled entirely by the host workers. The host species' diet varies by what Temnothorax species you're keeping, but most accept standard ant foods. Ensure food is available to the host colony, and the slaves will distribute it to everyone. ^[9]

Host Species Selection

Choosing the right host is critical. The most commonly used host in the wild is Temnothorax unifasciatus, which accounts for about 74% of observed parasitized colonies ^[14]. Other documented hosts include T. recedens, T. tuberum, T. exilis, T. flavicornis, T. nigriceps, T. bulgaricus, T. albipennis, and T. grouvellei ^[15][1]. In Greece, recorded hosts include T. brackoi, T. bulgaricus, T. flavicornis, T. cf. nigriceps, and T. recedens ^[1]. The host species you choose will determine much of the care routine, as you're essentially keeping two species with potentially different preferences. Some hosts are easier to find and maintain than others, T. unifasciatus and T. tuberum are relatively common in the antkeeping hobby.

Behavior and Raiding

The most fascinating behavior is the raid. Worker slavers use tandem running, one parasite worker leads another to the target host colony ^[16]. They do not kill adult host workers during raids, instead, they steal the brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and carry it back to their nest ^[9]. The stolen brood emerges as enslaved host workers that integrate into the parasite colony and do all the work, foraging, nursing, nest maintenance, everything. The parasite workers are essentially useless for practical tasks. Interestingly, workers imprint on their host species during development and preferentially target colonies of that same species for future raids ^[11]. This learned preference means a colony raised with T. unifasciatus slaves will primarily raid other T. unifasciatus colonies.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

This species has a conservation status of Vulnerable (VU D2) in some regions due to its rarity and specialized habitat requirements ^[17][18]. It is protected in some European countries. Before attempting to keep this species, check your local regulations regarding collecting and keeping native ant species. Additionally, consider whether keeping a social parasite is ethical, these species are rare in the wild and depend entirely on host colonies that may also be protected or endangered. For most antkeepers, observing this species in the wild or supporting conservation efforts is more appropriate than attempting captive breeding. This species is best appreciated as a remarkable example of social parasitism in ants rather than as a pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

References