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 Pogonomyrmex californicus 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 Pogonomyrmex californicus to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
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, an active and aggressive species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Colonies of Pogonomyrmex californicus grow large, reaching round 2,000 – 4,500 workers.1 They also grow quickly, capable of reaching approximately 1,000 workers in two years. Some populations of P. californicus are polygynous, while others are monogynous.1
Worker/Queen Information: Workers are large, ranging from ~4.5-8 millimeters long. Both workers and queens have matte red heads and thoraxes, with a shiny red gaster.2 Queens measure in at around 8-10mm in length. Pogonomyrmex californicus is monomorphic, with no major caste.
Hibernation/Diapause: This species does not need to hibernate, and doing so is not recommended.
Feeding Requirements: Pogonomyrmex californicus’ main diet consists of seeds. However, insect proteins such as fruit flies, mealworms, or superworms are also beneficial. Colonies should be fed at least once a week. Occasionally, colonies will accept solid sugars in the form of fruits.
Heating and Humidity: This species requires a heating cable or mat, and must be kept over 80f. Prefers 85f. Medium humidity.
Nesting Habits and Escape Prevention: In the wild, P. californicus is found in the arid deserts of the southwest US.2 In captivity, they require substrate in their nests due to their inability to climb plastic. Despite this, a barrier of talc or fluon is recommended as this is a stinging species.
Development Time: Approximately 4-6 weeks egg to worker with proper heating.
Other notes: This is a stinging species. While painful, stings are typically not harmful, but may cause harm in individuals who are allergic. In fact, P. californicus stands alongside P. maricopa as one of the most painful ant stings in the southwest.2
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