Dorymyrmex bicolor

Buckeye Myrmecology has been granted permits by the USDA which allow us to ship these ants to many states in the Continental US. All shipments of Dorymyrmex bicolor will include the relevant permit for your state and information on safe handling and disposal of these ants. States that we are allowed to ship Dorymyrmex bicolor to are listed below.

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

Shipping Notice: Please note that ants are only shipped on Mondays to prevent colonies from being stuck in the mail over the weekend or exposed to poor weather for extensive periods. Orders placed after 12:00 PM EST on Sunday will be shipped one week later on the following Monday. If you are placing an order for UPS Next Day Air Saver and would like us to ship later in the week, please reach out to us via email. Live arrival is guaranteed, if your ants do not arrive in good condition, please take a picture of the ants and contact us within 2 hours of arrival. Please be available to bring your ants inside upon arrival during hot/cold weather, or ask your local post office to hold them for pickup. Shipping times are estimates, and are not guaranteed.

Species Difficulty: Easy, a great beginner species.

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Dorymyrmex bicolor’s mature size has yet to be documented in scientific literature, but it is likely a few thousand workers or less. Colonies grow quickly, and can reach 100+ workers before the end of their first year, provided they have proper heating and food. This species is can sometimes have multiple queens per colony.¹

Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Dorymyrmex bicolor workers and queens have red heads/mesosomas with darker gasters. Queens have grey gasters with red mesosomas and heads. Workers are approximately 3-3.7 millimeters long, and queens are ~6.5-7.5 mm in length.² This species is not polymorphic.

Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Dorymyrmex bicolor, cool the colony to ~50-60F. It is important to provide them with a constant water source during diapause, and check on them every few weeks to ensure that they still have water. As they wake up from diapause, colonies will be lethargic, but will not appear to be dead. For more information about diapause, refer to our guide.

Feeding Requirements: Colonies require a constant source of sugars, typically either sugar water or honey. They accept common feeder insects for protein, such as superworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, and fruit flies. Proteins should be fed as often as the ants will accept them, or at least once a week.

Heating and Humidity: Heating will speed up brood development. Brood will prefer high humidity, while workers will prefer medium.

Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: Dorymyrmex bicolor is a southwestern species that is primarily found in open, sandy habitats, a feature common to many other members of the genus.² In captivity, they can thrive in many different nest environments, including acrylic, 3D printed, grout, and ultracal nests. Talcum powder, olive oil, and Fluon can be used to prevent escape.

Development Time: Approximately 4-5 weeks egg to worker.