highered: Harpegnathos venator (18. Jun 2008 13:13)

There is no English description for Harpegnathos venator. Does anyone know anything about keeping them please? Eg, nest as a sand/loam mix?, ideal termperature, ideal humidity, size of workers, etc. Thank you.

JimmyVe: (18. Jun 2008 17:13)

I have no experience with these ants but i can help you with this.

The queen is about 16mm large, the workers also can grow to 16mm.
You can keep them in a sand nest but i'm sure a y-tong would work to, only be ware, they can dig trough it.
They need heating and a high humidity.
I would say about 28°c and 60-80%.

Don't forget that these ants can jump about 10cm high.

highered: Odontoponera transversa (19. Jun 2008 14:21)

Thanks for that. Do you know the same information for Odontoponera transversa please? There is also no English description for them. Thank you.

JimmyVe: (19. Jun 2008 15:49)

Queen and workers about 13mm big.
Sand nest would be fine. They like nesting underneath a rock. Could be kept in a y-tong as well.
Feed them insects and sweets (honey or sugar water)
Keep them at 22-28°c
So they need heating and a good humidity.
Climate: Tropic.

kashmir79: (19. Jun 2008 16:58)

do you have enough experience?

bulldog ants sting can kill humans if you are allergic

Skippy: (19. Jun 2008 19:31)

Don't forget that these ants can jump about 10cm high.
jimmy , it is for Odontomachus , not? :P

bulldog ants sting can kill humans if you are allergic

this is Harpegnathos , they have not poison sting ... only Myrmecia is this ant-type from bulldog ants

and Odontoponera transversa is really nice ants , also thinking about buy them :)

kashmir79: (19. Jun 2008 19:58)

thanks for correction skippy :)

G4m813R: (19. Jun 2008 21:48)

I keep Harpegnathos venator too.
They can really jump. Queen looks like a worker but at a closer look you can see rests of wings on her back. Its really hard to keep them. My colonie shrinks from 20 to 10. Then queen died. Now the first male ants slipped. I hope they fertilize a worker.
I had luck after queen died. Normaly the workers fight to be the new queen. But my didnt do that. But I know from other keepers that they killed each other. If you can get bigger colonies you have better chances. People with small colonies got a couple of problems.

JimmyVe: (20. Jun 2008 18:08)

Don't forget that these ants can jump about 10cm high.
jimmy , it is for Odontomachus , not? :P

Yes ;)

In deed these ants are difficult to keep. Don't forget that.

Phasmid: (21. Jun 2008 17:44)

Aren't Odontomachus the ones that can jump 40cm using their jaws?