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 dentigula 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 dentigula to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
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: Easy, a great beginner species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Pheidole dentigula generally have small colonies. Their maximum size is not known, but is likely less than 1000 workers.1 This species does not allow multiple queens per colony, but they may temporarily cooperate while founding, which is called secondary monogyny.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Pheidole dentigula varies in coloration from yellowish to reddish-brown. They are dimorphic, with workers ~1.7-2.1 millimeters, and majors reaching up to 2.9mm.1 Queens are approximately 5-6mm in length.
Hibernation: This species can hibernate, but hibernation is optional and not recommended. To diapause Pheidole dentigula, 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, Pheidole dentigula are typically found in wet forests, wehter they nest in the soil and in rotting wood.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.
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