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 rhea 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 rhea to are listed below.
Per our permit requirements, we are required to notify the California Department of Food and Agriculture of any colonies of Pheidole rhea shipped to California. They may or may not wish to inspect the shipment upon arrival.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
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, has a few specific care requirements. Can be delicate at small colony sizes, yet tough to contain once larger.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Pheidole rhea colonies can reach a large size, and some have been estimated to reach over 30,000 workers.1 They also grow fast, capable of reaching 100-200 workers in 2-4 months, and quickly growing to over 1000 if properly fed and heated. This species is monogynous.
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: P. rhea workers and queens are a matte black, sometimes with a slight reddish tinge. They are one of a select few trimorphic Pheidole species in the US.1 Minor workers are ~3.75-4.75 millimeters long, majors are around 6-9mm in length, and super majors can be even larger.2 Queens are approximately 18-22mm long, similar to large Camponotus spp.
Hibernation: This species does not need to hibernate, and doing so is not recommended.
Feeding Requirements: Pheidole rhea is granivorous, and will happily consume both seeds and more typical ant food such as insect proteins. Insect proteins such as fruit flies, mealworms, or superworms are beneficial, as well as sugar water. Colonies should be fed at least once a week, ideally once every few days.
Heating and Humidity: This species requires a heating cable or mat, and must be kept over 75F. Prefers 80-85F. In captivity, they prefer medium humidity nests, with eggs and larvae requiring a higher humidity level than pupae. Workers will prefer cooler conditions than brood, so the use of a heating gradient across the nest is recommended.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, Pheidole rhea is found in the foothills of many mountain ranges through northern Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico.3 In captivity, they require substrate in their nests, so they will prefer grout and ultracal nests. Talcum powder or Fluon can be used to prevent escape.
Development Time: Approximately 3-4.5 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.
Other notes: Pheidole rhea is the largest Pheidole species in the US, and quite possibly the largest of all Pheidole species worldwide.
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