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 barbata 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 barbata to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, and Nevada.
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 barbata colonies grow fast and large, capable of reaching 100-200 workers after a year. Information on their mature size is lacking, but it is expected to be similar to other Pheidole (~1000 workers). This species is monogynous.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: P. barbata workers are primarily a brownish orange, with pale legs. Majors often have a redder head. Queens are darker in color, and occasionally have an amber tint to their gaster. They are dimorphic, with workers ~2.5-3.0 millimeters long, and majors around 4.5-5.5mm in length.1 Queens are approximately 8-10mm 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 barbata is granivorous, and their colonies will happily accept seeds/nuts as sugar and protein source.1 However, these should only be offered alongside other food sources. 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: This species requires a heating cable or mat, and must be kept over 80F. Prefers 80-85F 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 barbata nest in light sand or rough asnd at the edges of arroyos.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: In the wild, P. barbata is primarily active outside the nest at night.2
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