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Posted Yesterday, 11:15 AM
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So I've been wondering this for a while. Their majors have very large mandibles. They kind of look like Eciton majors because of their mandibles. Why do they need such large mandibles in a habitat where they have almost no predators?
Thanks for reading! (Sorry about the sentences not flowing well)
Edited by Zhuge, Yesterday, 11:25 AM.
If you have permits to ship pheidole californica to washington pls lmk
Keeping:
Solenopsis molesta
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Tetramorium immigrans
Camponotus modoc
2 lasius queens (prob pallitarsis)
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Posted Yesterday, 12:56 PM
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So I've been wondering this for a while. Their majors have very large mandibles. They kind of look like Eciton majors because of their mandibles. Why do they need such large mandibles in a habitat where they have almost no predators?
Thanks for reading! (Sorry about the sentences not flowing well)
They live in the dessert, and a lot of the stuff that lives there are pretty big, like scorpions, tarantulas and small lizards and geckos. So I'm guessing that those mandible shapes are best for piercing thick things.
Currently keeping:
1x Formica subsericea, 35-40 workers + maybe eggs *New* 2x Camponotus nova, one has only larva
1x Crematogaster cerasi, All workers is ded 
*extreme internal screaming* 1x Myrmica ruba sp around 10 workers + pupa
*New* 1x Temnothorax curvispinosus, 101 or something worker + 3 or 4 royal mom ants + pile of white ant worms
*As you watch your ants march, remember that every thing begins with a small step and continued by diligence and shared dreams* -A.T (which is Me)
Sadly due to unforeseen consequences, I will soon be giving away my colonies (I will miss them though 
)
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Posted Yesterday, 3:46 PM
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So I've been wondering this for a while. Their majors have very large mandibles. They kind of look like Eciton majors because of their mandibles. Why do they need such large mandibles in a habitat where they have almost no predators?
Thanks for reading! (Sorry about the sentences not flowing well)
They live in the dessert, and a lot of the stuff that lives there are pretty big, like scorpions, tarantulas and small lizards and geckos. So I'm guessing that those mandible shapes are best for piercing thick things.
Yes but the nest is closed for most of the day except for a 10 minute period. They also don't usually have a large surplus of food so it does not make sense to produce huge majors with massive mandibles.
If you have permits to ship pheidole californica to washington pls lmk
Keeping:
Solenopsis molesta
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Tetramorium immigrans
Camponotus modoc
2 lasius queens (prob pallitarsis)
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Posted Yesterday, 8:14 PM
Advanced Member
It is believed that the trait was developed to defend against the lizard genus Acanthodactylus--the main predator of C. bombycina--that often dig into nests to consume the brood and workers. Some researchers have noted a distinct presence of the majors deep in the nest in the brood chambers.
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Posted Today, 8:45 AM
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It is believed that the trait was developed to defend against the lizard genus Acanthodactylus--the main predator of C. bombycina--that often dig into nests to consume the brood and workers. Some researchers have noted a distinct presence of the majors deep in the nest in the brood chambers.
So I guess I'm partially right.
You learn something new every day.
Currently keeping:
1x Formica subsericea, 35-40 workers + maybe eggs *New* 2x Camponotus nova, one has only larva
1x Crematogaster cerasi, All workers is ded *extreme internal screaming* 1x Myrmica ruba sp around 10 workers + pupa
*New* 1x Temnothorax curvispinosus, 101 or something worker + 3 or 4 royal mom ants + pile of white ant worms
*As you watch your ants march, remember that every thing begins with a small step and continued by diligence and shared dreams* -A.T (which is Me)
Sadly due to unforeseen consequences, I will soon be giving away my colonies (I will miss them though )
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