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 Pheidole bicarinata 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 Pheidole bicarinata to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Every state except Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.
Pheidole bicarinata for sale, Pheidole bicarinata for sale
Species Difficulty: Easy, a great beginner species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Pheidole bicarinata 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. This species does not allow multiple queens per colony, but they may temporarily cooperate while founding, secondary monogyny.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: P. bicarinata is primarily a reddish-brown species, without much color variation. They are dimorphic, with workers ~1.8-2.1 millimeters, and majors 3.2-3.3mm.1 Queens are approximately 7-8mm in length.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Pheidole bicarinata, 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: Pheidole bicarinata is granivorous, and their colonies will happily accept seeds/nuts as sugar and protein source. However, these should only be offered alongside other food sources. 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, Pheidole bicarinata are ground nesting, often found under rocks in semi-sandy areas in the eastern portion of their distribution.2 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: One of the most common Pheidole species in the US, Pheidole bicarinata was instrumental in early studies on caste determination in ants.2
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