Odontomachus chelifer (trap-jaw)
| Latin Name: |  |
Odontomachus chelifer |
| Trivialname: |  |
Trapjaw ants |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Ponerinae Tribe: Ponerini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) show higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention |
| Distribution: |  |
Central- and South America |
| Habitat: |  |
tropical rainforest |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 20 mm Colour: black, reddish extremities, glossy |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 18-20mm Colour: black, reddish extremities, glossy |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
living insects like fruit flies,spring tails, mealworm, termites, roaches and sugarwater/jelly |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 60 - 70% Nestpart: 60 - 80% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
nest in ground, in and under dead and rotten wood |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm-arena, -Center, -Combi, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: L - XL |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: cork, softwood, humus Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to tropical rainforest with different epiphyts and an extensive leaf litter |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, leaves |
| Description: |  |
Odontomachus chelifer is one ot the biggest trap-jaw species in the world. They are especially aktiv during twilight. They use their mandibles as a trap for small insects thats while they they recieved the name trapjaw ants. Thats one of the fastest movements in the animalkingdom. Bigger prey they hold with the mandibles and kill them with their sting. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: founding: semiclaustral (with feeding) colonysize: several hundred |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |