Myrmica evanida

NOTE: this species is semi-claustral, meaning that queens must be fed while raising their first workers. Myrmica evanida, Myrmica evanida

STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Ohio.

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. This species has a semi-claustral founding stage, and some of its care information is unknown.

Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Not much is known about Myrmica evanida, which is an undescribed species currently named according to Francouer’s draft revision of the Myrmica genus.¹ Colony size and growth speed are likely similar to other Myrmica species, whose colonies mature at fewer than 1,000 workers, and grow quickly, capable of reaching 200 workers in a year with frequent feeding and heat. Colony structure is unknown, but our testing indicates that queens are capable of founding together. Given polygyny is common in other Myrmica species, M. evanida may be polygynous as well.

Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Workers and queens of this species are primarily a reddish brown, with darker gasters and sometimes heads. Assuming M. evanida workers are similar in size to the species they split from (M. americana), they are one of the largest Myrmica species. Workers range from ~4.5-6.2 millimeters in length, while queens are approximately 7-9mm long.² They are monomorphic, with only one worker caste.

Hibernation: It is unknown whether M. evanida requires a diapause period. Some sources indicate that Myrmica species require diapause, while others state they do not. A few sources even state that they can skip the first diapause period, but require it during the following years! So, the jury is still out. Careful observation will be required to determine whether your M. evanida colony wants to hibernate. Some indicators for this are the absence of any brood and reduced foraging activity. To diapause M. evanida, 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: Myrmica ants are primarily a scavenger/predators, and colonies require a constant source of sugars, typically either sugar water or honey.¹ 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. Do not heat above 78F.

Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Myrmica evanida is found in open areas, such as fields, parks, and prairies. 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 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.

Other notes: Despite being Ohio’s (and likely much of the lower Midwest’s) most common Myrmica species, M. evanida has yet to be formally described.