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 Aphaenogaster fulva 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 Aphaenogaster fulva to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, 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: Easy, a great species for antkeepers of any experience level.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Colonies of Aphaenogaster fulva grow relatively quickly, capable of reaching 100-200 workers in 6-8 months. Afterwards, growth is exponential, and they can reach hundreds in the next year. Mature colonies of A. fulva average ~800 workers, and can reach upwards of 1500.1 Colonies are typically monogynous, with one queen.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: A. fulva workers/queens are primarily a reddish brown, with orange gasters. Workers range from 4.4 to 6.7 millimeters in length and queens are ~9-10mm long.2 While this species is not polymorphic, there is significant variation in worker size.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Aphaenogaster treatae, 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: Aphaenogaster fulva is granivorous, and their colonies will accept seeds/nuts as a sugar and protein source. However, these should only be offered alongside other food sources. Colonies require a constant source of sugars, typically either sugar water or honey. However, Aphaenogaster ants have non-functional social stomachs, so they may prefer solid food that can be carried back to the nest. 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 can speed up brood development. Brood will prefer high humidity, while workers will prefer medium.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Aphaenogaster fulva nest in leaf litter and/or decaying logs.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 4-6 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.
Other Notes: In the Eastern US, Aphaenogaster spp. are responsible for dispersing the seeds of many woodland plant species, including spring ephemerals.
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