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5 of 50 states

* Shipping regulations vary by state per USDA APHIS PPQ 526 permits.

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Odontomachus brunneus Florida Trap-jaw Ants

$99.99
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Floridian Trap-Jaw Ants
Odontomachus brunneus is the trap-jaw ant of the southeastern coastal plain, ranging through Florida into southern Georgia and Alabama, nesting in leaf litter, rotting logs, tree bases, and open sand, the nest a single vertical shaft off which simple horizontal chambers open, 100-1,000 workers to a colony. The jaws are used less freely than the name suggests: prey are approached tentatively and the ant recoils the instant the strike lands, retrieving only after a pause.

Estimated Availability
November 23, 2026
Difficulty
Advanced
Species Traits
🪹Cavity-Nester🍽Omnivore🍽Predator⚠Heat-Loving👑Monogynous👑Semi-Claustral🔬Monomorphic🛡Aggressive⚡Stinging⚡Trap-Jaw Mandibles⚠High-Humidity🪹Soil-Nesting🔬Large🪹TJL Sponge
Live organism — Covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Someone must be available to receive the package on delivery day. Ships Mon–Wed only.
Colony Care Kit Included with every colony!
Not just a test tube. We give you a whole Colony Care Kit.

Most live-ant sellers ship their ants in a test tube wrapped in paper towels. We include everything you need to get started.

  • Small Foraging Area
  • Test Tube + TJL Sponge
  • Tube Dock
  • Honeydew Honey Sample
  • Liquid Feeder
  • Feeding Dish

TrapJaw Labs

Odontomachus brunneus Florida Trap-jaw Ants

Floridian Trap-Jaw Ants
Odontomachus brunneus is the trap-jaw ant of the southeastern coastal plain, ranging through Florida into southern Georgia and Alabama, nesting in leaf litter, rotting logs, tree bases, and open sand, the nest a single vertical shaft off which simple horizontal chambers open, 100-1,000 workers to a colony. The jaws are used less freely than the name suggests: prey are approached tentatively and the ant recoils the instant the strike lands, retrieving only after a pause.

Species facts

Nesting: Cavity-Nester, Soil-Nesting, TJL Sponge

Diet: Omnivore, Predator

Care Needs: Heat-Loving, High-Humidity

Colony Type: Monogynous, Semi-Claustral

Morphology: Monomorphic, Large

Temperament: Aggressive

Special Trait: Stinging, Trap-Jaw Mandibles

Difficulty: Advanced

Housing that fits this species

This species fits our The Substratum.

Where we can ship it

Approved for live delivery to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas.

Full care guide for Odontomachus brunneus

Browse the species care library, see the rest of our shop, or check what we can ship to your state.