7 replies to this topic

[dominatus]

I found an Odontomachus brunneus queen just chilling under the weather strip on the back door. I saw something dart under there and being the curious guy I am looked. I was rewarded.

She is in a standard test tube set up.

Any hints for short term and long term success?

[PacificNorthWestern]

put substrate in the test tube. they need it to spin their cocoons and they just prefer it

[dominatus]

Thanks. I read they may be semi claustral? I will have her open to a small outworld before any larva show up I hope. I gave her some sugary oats for now. I will give her some protein soon.

[PacificNorthWestern]

they are semi claustral. she needs sugar and protein rn, even without larvae

Edited by PacificNorthWestern, June 28 2019 - 6:35 PM.

[Superant33]

Don’t wait until larvae show up. Offer her protein now. Fruit flies, small termites, and other small prey items. I have observed this species eating springtails as well. As a previous poster stated, add substrate.

[dominatus]

Don’t wait until larvae show up. Offer her protein now. Fruit flies, small termites, and other small prey items. I have observed this species eating springtails as well. As a previous poster stated, add substrate.

they are semi claustral. she needs sugar and protein rn, even without larvae

She has some substrate and insect protein. Hopefully all will go well.

[SuperFrank]

O bruennus is semi claustral and kind of finnicky in the founding stage, they cannot be housed in a bare tube and I find even a tube with dirt is hit or miss. A small dirt set up or tiny masonry nest with some substrate is ideal for them ime, if not provided substrate the larvae will continuously fail to pupate. When larvae are present they must be fed small, soft bodied prey daily. I use flightless fruit flies. If not provided proper food daily the queen will eat the brood or feed some larvae to others. They don't need carbs at all ime and myself and multiple other keepers provide them with no source of sugar at all. There is kind of conflicting information about whether the queens/adults need to be fed directly. I have read that they do not, and in fact cannot process solid food and rely on larvae to do it for them. However I have directly witnessed a founding O bruennus queen eating a fruit fly so idk.

Edited by SuperFrank, June 29 2019 - 1:36 PM.

[dominatus]

Thank you very much SuperFrank. I have unlimited supply of subterranean termites so hopefully that will work for them. I think she has all she needs at the moment. No eggs yet. I'll let y'all know how it goes.