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How to care for Myrmecia Gratiosa

    Myrmecia Gratiosa Basic Info: Myrmecia Gratiosa is a large-sized ant species with an average size of 2.1cm they are endemic to Australia and their colors range from red to reddish brown. They are most commonly found south western Australia in sandy slightly forested areas with flat ground. The queens of this species are semi-claustral needing to be fed once every few days and they are a more primitive species relying on mainly sight to hunt. Their stings are extremely painful and have been known to cause anaphylaxis in humans. Husbandry: For temperature and humidity, wise Myrmecia Gratiosa prefers a humidity range of 50% to 80%  while the temperatures they can be kept in is 26 to 29 degrees Celsius. Their nest in the wild has both a wet and a dry spot where they will store their brood according to the humidity requirements. It is recommended that larger colonies be provided with two different formicaria, one that has been moisturized and the other left dry.  For founding colonies t
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How to care for Odontoponera Denticulata

 Odontoponera Denticulata

Basic Info:

Odontoponera Denticulata are medium sized ants with an average size of 1.3cm. Their colors range from black to blackish brown. They are most commonly found in disturbed areas with flat ground and their nest has no mounds, only multiple small holes spread out as their entrance. In Singapore, workers of this species can often be seen running around parks and along the sides of cement paths. 

Husbandry:

For temperature and humidity wise Odontoponera Denticulata prefer a humidity range of 60% to 75% 
while the temperatures they can be kept in is 25 to 29 degrees Celsius 

For founding colonies they can be kept in a test tube setup with soil inside till around 8 to 15 workers.
I would then shift them into a ytong or clay formicarium as it is easier to maintain a higher humidity in these types of formicarium. However having tested acrylic formicarium's they have worked too but you would need to add more soil and a wet sponge/wool for humidity. Do take note that all setups would need to include at least a slight amount of soil or sand for the ants larvae to be able to spin cocoons.

For their diet they are quite accepting of any type of prey be it live or recently killed such as termite queens, mealworms, crickets and red runners. But out of all of them I noticed they prefer red runners and that the rate of their brood production is way faster for those on red runner diets. I also occasionally feed them freshly squeezed fruit juice or honey but they seem to only take it in small amounts.

Odontoponera worker guarding the nest entrance:









Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/33212211@N00/49599707537 Gerald Chartier

My personal colony:


My colony when it was in a acrylic formicarium:





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