4 replies to this topic

[Nexus]

During my trip to Honk Kong, I had the chance to find this queen. Could you identify it for me please ?

 

1. Location of collection: Lantau Island, South of China (Asia)

2. Date of collection: 27/04/2015
3. Habitat of collection: Humid
4. Length (from head to gaster): app. 1,3 cm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black with an important pilosity on the gaster (gold colored hair). The inside of the legs are slightly red
6. Distinguishing characteristics: It can open its mandible pretty widely.

7. Photos :

 

Can you also give me care sheets and advices to keep this species ?

 

 

Thanks a lot !

[Ants4fun]

Probably a ponerine ant. These ants usually need some type of substrate. I have a ponerine ant (Ponera pennsylvania) and although mine are a lot smaller, they are pretty similar. They will do good with something like a petri dish wit some dirt. Min love insects and byformica products. They mostly take protein. Yours might like termites. The key is experimentation. Not a lot is known, care wise. I also find that for the most part they like humidity. Nice queen!!

[Jonathan21700]

Great find! I think this is a Pachycondyla sp. queen. As said above they need substrate and are predatory also the queens are semi claustral and will need to forage. You can try something similar to my setup : 

Good luck!

[Ants4fun]

I also had a hunch they were Pachycondyla as I saw a lot in Costa Rica that looked very similar.

[Ants4fun]

Sometimes it can be tricky to tell a worker from a queen, but you can clearly see the wing scars on this specimen.