6 replies to this topic

[Jaybug]

Please give your opinion if this is a queen Odontomachus.

 

Central Florida.

Collected 8-14 on the rear patio. Lots of trap jaw colonies around the yard and woods. Moving very slowly and deliberately, even after blocking it's path.

7/16" long.

Black.

Large thorax. Much larger than any of the other ones we have seen or collected.

 

I Phone pics:

 

 

[Canadian anter]

Yes
From the pronounced thorax in the tip views, typical in pondering queens
*top

[Canadian anter]

First two and #5&6 are queens

[Goldsystem]

So cool

[Jaybug]

Actually all the same ant. Thank you for the feedback! We have begun the journey!

 

We have a colony of Odontomachus we excavated but no queen was found, but discovered another colony with brood in a rotten log and put the brood in our formicarium with the first colony and they accepted them right away and started caring for them. Some have already "hatched". My son's almost having as much fun as I am... Should I dare introduce this queen to my  queenless colony? Would they accept a queen? Or just start a new colony and not take a chance?

 

Thank you.

[Saftron]

Do not introduce workers to a new queen.

[kellakk]

Nice find! Wing scars and large thorax let you know it's a queen. I can't tell if there's wing scars, but the thorax looks fairly large for Odonotomachus. Brood boosting can help, but it's probably better if you don't give her larvae since she will feed them from her reserves. You could introduce her to the workers, but it's risky and I wouldn't do it myself. Giving her pupae is plenty to help her get started faster.