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 Crematogaster lineolata 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 Crematogaster lineolata to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Every state except for Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
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: Crematogaster lineolata is a species that is capable of growing large colonies, with a max size of at least 5,000 workers. Colonies also grow very fast, reaching over 100 workers before their first diapause, and quickly reaching into the thousands with proper feeding and heat. This species is polygynous, and wild colonies often have multiple queens.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Workers of Crematogaster lineolata are approximately 2.8-4.2 millimeters in length, and queens are 7-9 millimeters long.1 Workers are mildly polymorphic with no distinct castes.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Crematogaster lineolata, 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: Heating can drastically speed up brood development. Brood will prefer high humidity, while workers will prefer medium.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Crematogaster lineolata is primarily found in rotten logs, nuts or under stones. Interestingly, they often make use of carton as well.1 In captivity, many types of nests can be used, including acrylic, 3D printed, UltraCal/grout, and wood. Talcum powder, olive oil, and Fluon can be used to prevent escape.
Development Time: Approximately 5 weeks egg-worker time depending on temperature and feeding practices.
Other notes: This genus is known for their unique, upturning gaster and the ability to spray venom at predators or prey to defend themselves. However, they cannot harm humans.
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