Ant keepers enjoy a fun and educational hobby, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has an interest in it. You might wonder what ant keeping has to do with American agriculture and natural resources. Some invertebrates that people—including ant keepers—import into the U.S. or move between states could threaten our crops, forests, and community landscapes if they escape. USDA can help you import and move them safely.
Artisan Ant Nests,
Inspired By Nature
Here at Buckeye Myrmecology, we strive to provide you with affordable, high quality nests that your ants will love.
Featured Products
$64-$74
Pogonomyrmex badius is the only harvester ant species found in the southeastern US, and is also the only US Pogonomyrmex with a major caste! In the wild, this species forms large colonies, dominating any landscape they are found in. P. badius is an active, fast-growing species that is incredibly fun to keep. Start your colony of P. badius today!
$50-$62
Pheidole barbata is a granivorous big-headed ant species found in the deserts of the Southwest US. They’re best known for their impressive majors, which can reach the size of small Formica species! If you decide to raise a colony of this unique Pheidole species, you won’t be disappointed.
$40-$74
Formica perpilosa is one of a select few Formica species that prefers arid, desert environments. They are native to the southwestern United States, and form large, aggressive colonies. Unlike nearly all Formica species, they do not seem to need a diapause period. Start your colony of this unique desert ant species today!
Novomessor cockerelli is a large, aggressive, and fast-growing species found in the open deserts of the Southwestern United States. In the wild, They feed primarily on a mix of seeds, scavenged insects, and sugars. Additionally, N. cockerelli is easy to keep, and sure to keep any antkeeper fascinated by their activity and behaviors.
Camponotus castaneus is a rare species found throughout the eastern US. Known by antkeepers for its striking orange coloration and large worker size, Camponotus castaneus is a fun, fast growing species ideal for both beginners and experts alike!
$44-$62
Pogonomyrmex barbatus is the largest harvester ant species in the US, with workers reaching up to 12.9 millimeters long. They’re an active, fast-growing species that is incredibly fun to keep. Get your colony of P. barbatus today!
$54-$66
Myrmecocystus mimicus is a medium-sized honeypot ant found in the southwest United States. Colonies of this species reach approximately 5,000 workers, of which 20-25% are repletes. Repletes are a caste of swollen workers that act as food stores for the colony. If you’re looking to raise your first colony of honeypot ants, Myrmecocystus mimicus is a great choice!
Lasius americanus is a small, fast-growing ant species found across the entire US. Workers range in size from 2.5 to 4mm, and queens are 7-8 millimeters long. Colonies grow large, reaching into the thousands. Lasius americanus is also a common host species, used by hobbyists to raise a variety of parasitic Lasius species. Overall, they’re easy to care for, fun to watch, and useful to have around — great for any antkeeper, both beginners and experts.
A longtime staple in the antkeeping hobby, the Petri Dish Formicarium is an excellent option for any price-concious antkeeper, with the added benefit of being able to house a very wide range of ant species. This nest is capable of housing anything from large active species to small cryptics, and everything in between. The rough surface and embedded substrate allows many species that cannot walk on plastic or glass to utilize the nest, and provides a medium to aid larvae in spinning cocoons.
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A Step Above The Rest
What makes Buckeye Myrmecology the place to go for ant colonies, ant nests, and antkeeping supplies?
Healthy Ants
We attentively observe and care for all of our colonies as they grow from just a single queen, so that we always send you the healthiest colonies available.
Quality Products
All of our products have undergone rigorous testing to ensure safety, consisency, and optimal colony growth speeds.
By Antkeepers, For Antkeepers.
We've been keeping ants for over 6 years, and during that time we've learned a lot about them. We've put all of this knowledge directly into our nests, so they can meet the needs of ant colonies around the world.
Fair Prices
A lot of factors go into the way we price our products, all to make sure you can get the best nests for the best prices.