Odontomachus monticola
An East Asian trap-jaw ant from mountain forests. A small colony of ants with lightning-fast mandibles.
Species at a glance
- Origin: humid forests from Honshu, Japan, through Taiwan to the mountains of southern China
- Size: queen 13–15 mm; workers 11–13.5 mm
- Colony: up to 300 ants
- Difficulty: intermediate, for keepers with some experience
Care conditions
- Temperature: 20–28 °C
- Humidity: 60–80%
- Food: live or freshly killed small insects; sugar is optional
Hibernation
Needed: 3–4 months at about 12 °C.
Farm and colony growth
Workers are skilled escapers: use a tight lid, fine mesh on the vents and an anti-escape barrier on the arena walls.
Safety
Workers sting, and the sting is painful. Do not handle the ants, use long forceps, and if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, choose another species.