Ants will typically only be shipped on Mondays and Tuesdays so that they will not be stuck in the mail over the weekend. 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. With the summer heat, please be available to take them inside upon arrival. Refer to the refund policy for more information.
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 Lasius brevicornis 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 Lasius brevicornis to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Every state in the Continental US EXCEPT Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.
Species Difficulty: Easy, a great choice for a first ant colony!
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Mature colonies can be large, often with over 10,000 workers. This species founds its first generation of workers after overwintering, and will reach between 100 and 400 workers in its first year, growing exponentially afterwards with proper care. Colonies are polygynous, and sometimes capable of fusing even after the founding stage!
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Lasius brevicornis is a small-medium species, with workers ranging from 2.8 to 3.5 millimeters long, and queens approximately 7 to 8 millimeters. The species is known for its light-yellow coloration in workers, with queens a light shade of brown.
Hibernation: THIS SPECIES REQUIRES AT LEAST 3-4 MONTHS OF HIBERNATION/DIAPAUSE. To diapause Lasius brevicornis, 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 in most cases 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.
Heating and Humidity: Heating is not recommended under any circumstances, Lasius brevicornis can be sensitive to overheating. They require high humidity.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Lasius brevicornis is found nesting under rocks and logs in dry woodlands. Primarily a subterranean species, nest entrances can only be found when they are excavated to allow for nuptial flights. In captivity, they will nest acrylic, ultracal, 3D printed, and grout nests, among a few other less common types. They are not very good at climbing; talc, fluon, and olive oil will provide an adequate barrier to escape.
Development Time: 59 days when kept at 90 degrees Fahrenheit, however this is not recommended. Normal egg to worker time is approximately 9 weeks.
Other notes: This species is often used in captivity as a host species for parasitic Lasius queens in the subgenera of Cthonolasius and Acanthomyops.
Andrew Kaiser (verified owner) –
arrived with ~10 workers and had a nice pile of fresh eggs very next day.