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 Formica neoclara 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 Formica neoclara to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
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, Formica can be sensitive to vibrations and will occasionally eat brood if disturbed too much.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Colony size in Formica neoclara has not been well documented. Given the large size of wild nests, they can likely reach 50,000-100,000 workers.1 Colonies grow quickly for such a large species, often reaching 200+ workers by the end of their 2nd year with proper feeding and heat. This species is known to be polygynous, with multiple queens per nest.2
Worker/Queen Information: Workers and queens of Formica neoclara are somewhat variable in coloration. Gasters and heads are always primarily a silvery-grey coloration, but the mesosoma can vary from grey to red. Workers are large, at 4.5-6.5mm long, and queens reach up to approximately 13mm.3 This species does not have a defined major caste.
Hibernation/Diapause: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES A HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE PERIOD OF AT LEAST 3-4 MONTHS. To diapause Formica neoclara, place them into a fridge or other cool area that stays above freezing, and leave them there for 3-5 months. They need a constant supply of water during this time, so check every few weeks to make sure that they have not run out of water. Typically, Formica do not overwinter with brood. For more information about diapause, refer to our guide.
Feeding Requirements: They will eat a wide range of feeder insects, including superworms, mealworms, dubia roaches, and fruit flies. They require constant sugars, in the form of sugar water or honey.
Heating and Humidity: In captivity, they prefer medium/high humidity nests, with eggs and larvae requiring a higher humidity level than pupae. Workers do best in cooler conditions, while brood will prefer a heated environment, so the use of a heating gradient across the nest is recommended.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Formica neoclara forms large, low mounds with many entrances. They will nest in a variety of open habitats, from prairies to open woodlands.1 In captivity, they do well in a variety of nests, including acrylic, grout, 3D printed, and wood. Fluon, talc/baby powder, and olive oil can be used as effective barriers.
Development Time: Brood takes approximately 4-5 weeks to go from egg to worker, depending on heating, food, and other factors.
Other Notes: This species is often used as a host for various parasitic/slave making Formica species.
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