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 Pheidole hyatti 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 Pheidole hyatti to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, Colorado, 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: Pheidole hyatti colonies grow fast and large, capable of reaching 100-200 workers after a year, and quickly growing to over 1000 if properly fed and heated. Colonies are expected to reach their maximum size at a few thousand workers. This species is likely monogynous.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: P. hyatti can range from orange to reddish-brown, with queens often being darker in color than their workers. They are dimorphic, with workers ~2.5-3.5 millimeters long, and majors around 3.25-4mm in length.1 Queens are approximately 7-8mm long.
Hibernation: This species does not need to hibernate, and doing so is not recommended. However, some colonies may appear to slow growth during the winter. If this occurs, keep them in room temperature for 2-3 months before raising them back up to 80-85F.
Feeding Requirements: Pheidole hyatti 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. Seeds may also make up a small portion of their diet, but should only be offered alongside other food sources.
Heating and Humidity: This species requires a heating cable or mat, and must be kept over 75F. Prefers 77-80F In captivity, they prefer high humidity nests, with eggs and larvae requiring a higher humidity level than pupae. Workers will prefer cooler conditions than brood, so the use of a heating gradient across the nest is recommended.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Pheidole hyatti are ground nesting, often found under rocks in gravelly or sandy areas.1 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 4-6 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.
Other notes: This species is often raided by Neivamyrmex army ants.2
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