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 Temnothorax pergandei 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 Temnothorax pergandei to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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: Intermediate, this species can sometimes be tricky for beginners.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Temnothorax pergandei have small colonies, typically with a maximum size of 200-300 workers.1 Their colonies also grow fairly quickly, capable of reaching maturity within 1-2 years under good conditions. This species is monogynous, with only one queen in each colony.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Temnothorax pergandei ants range in color from blackish-brown to reddish orange. Workers are ~2.8-3.3 millimeters long.2 Queens reach approximately 4-6mm in length. This species is monomorphic, with only one worker caste.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional. To diapause Temnothorax pergandei, place the colony into a fridge/wine cooler, or another cold place that does not drop below freezing. 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: Mild heating can speed up brood development. Brood will prefer high humidity, while workers will prefer medium.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Temnothorax pergandei nest in soil, but they can also occasionally be found in bark cavities.1 In captivity, they can utilize a variety of nest types, including 3D printed, acrylic, grout, and Ultracal. However, it is important to make sure the nest is small enough for them! Since they need much smaller nests than other ant species, correctly sized nests can sometimes be difficult to come across. Fluon and talc can both be used as effective barriers.
Development Time: Approximately 5-7 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.
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