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 Monomorium minimum 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 Monomorium minimum to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Every state except Florida, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
Species Difficulty: Easy, a great beginner species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Monomorium minimum colonies grow fast and large, capable of reaching 200-400 workers after a year, and quickly growing to over 1000 if properly fed and heated. Colonies typically max out at a few thousand workers per queen. This species is polygynous and often has multiple queens per colony.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: M. minimum is a shiny black species that doesn’t have much color variation. Workers ~1.7-1.8 millimeters.1 Queens are approximately 6mm in length.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Monomorium minimum, 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, Monomorium minimum are ground nesting, often found semi-sandy areas.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: Colonies of M. minimum have been found in the wild with more than 50 queens!1
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.