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Acromyrmex octospinosus

Acromyrmex octospinosus, the dream species of many ant keepers. A species frequently featured on television, for example, in BBC documentaries (David Attenborough). A highly recognizable species, and its most recognizable trait is the habit of walking back to their nest with leaves.

Note: When you purchase a leaf cutter colony, you will also receive a comprehensive care sheet.

Specifications :
Scientific name : Acromyrmex octospinosus
Dutch name:/
Distribution area  : South America
Color of the ant : red, brown, orangeish
Difficulty level : 5/5
Size queen : 12-13 mm
Size worker : 5-12 mm
Size soldier : 10-12

Temperature and humidity

Mold room
Temperature: 23-26 degrees
Humidity: 95-100%

Outside world
Temperature: 21-28 degrees
Humidity: 50-70%

Waste room
Temperature: 21-28 degrees
Humidity : 30%-60%
Winter rest:/
Growth rate: 4/5
Grow to number of workers: +- 20,000 workers
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Foundation: claustral

Colony formation: monogyne (can have one queen per nest)
Diet: various types of fresh and dried leaves
Food requirement: high
Recommended nest type:  Quality ants cylinder nest t

Care:

Keep the nest temperature between 23°C and 26°C. In the wild, leafcutter ants are accustomed to an extremely stable underground temperature that fluctuates around 1°C year-round. The most important thing, however, is to measure the temperature where the fungus is located. Many people measure the temperature in the enclosure, and this is never accurate. You'll need a thermometer with a probe that you can place in the nest. This is the only accurate way to measure the ants' temperature.

Humidity. The humidity of your nest is crucial for the health of the colony. You should aim for a relative humidity as close to 100% as possible. Many sources will tell you that anything above 80% is fine. This is not the case. You should also measure this humidity directly where the mold is located. A distance of a few centimeters can reduce the accuracy of the humidity measurement by many percent. Keep in mind that any cold surface acts as a dehumidifier, converting water vapor in the air back into liquid water. This means that the front viewing window of your exhibit, which is normally the coldest part of your exhibit, will likely become covered in condensation, obstructing your view. Don't be tempted to lower the humidity to prevent this.

 

Difficulty level

5 / 5

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Which ant species would you like to have in our range?

Buy Acromyrmex octospinosus

Buying an Acromyrmex octospinosus ant won't make things easy for yourself. It's a rather difficult ant species. However, it also presents a nice challenge for the ant keeper. If you manage to create the ideal conditions, keeping this ant species is certainly doable.

The queen and the soldiers can reach a considerable length

If you decide to buy the Acromyrmex octospinosus, you'll be buying a very large ant. The queen can reach a length of up to 13 millimeters. The worker antlets reach a length of between 3 and 10 millimeters. The soldiers are also quite large, measuring between 10 and 13 millimeters. If you decide to buy the Acromyrmex octospinosus, you'll enjoy it year-round. They don't hibernate. If you do choose to buy the Acromyrmex octospinosus, it's wise to purchase a cylinder ant.

The ant from South America prefers to eat leaves

The South American ant prefers to eat leaves and prefers temperatures between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. They thrive in nests with humidity levels between 95 and 99 percent. Especially if you decide to purchase the Acromyrmex octospinosus, it's especially important to maintain a very stable temperature and humidity level.

Buying the Acromyrmex octospinosus: you are not buying an easy ant species

With this ant, you're definitely buying a very attractive ant species. They belong to the Myrmicinae subfamily and are known for cultivating fungi. They feed the fungi the various leaves they eat. As mentioned, it's a somewhat difficult ant species to keep. Conditions must always be perfect. However, if you can manage that, things will run smoothly. Keeping this particular ant is a challenge for any ant keeper.

A challenge for the experienced ant keeper!

You can make things a lot easier for ant keepers, especially beginners. You can do this by deciding to buy something like Messor structor. It's much less work than choosing this fungus-producing ant. But an ant keeper who enjoys a challenge will definitely choose this special and robust ant species. It's up to you!

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