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 Solenopsis xyloni 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 Solenopsis xyloni to are listed below.
STATES AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 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, a great beginner species.
Max Colony Size, Growth Speed, and Structure: Maximum colony size has not been documented for Solenopsis xyloni, but they have been observed killing plants.1 This is an activity that requires large colonies, likely more than 10,000 workers. 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. Some populations of S. xyloni are monoygynous, while others may have multiple queens.1
Worker/Queen Sizes and Polymorphism: Workers and queens of Solenopsis xyloni are often a dark brown, but can also have red heads and mesosomas with a black gaster.1 Minor workers are ~2.5-3.5mm millimeters long, and majors are around 4mm in length. Queens are approximately 8mm long.2
Hibernation: This species does not need to hibernate, and doing so is not recommended.
Feeding Requirements: S. xyloni can consume seeds, but these should only be offered in conjunction with more typical ant foods, such as sugar water and insect pieces. Colonies should be fed at least once a week, ideally once every few days.
Heating and Humidity: 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, Solenopsis xyloni can be found in a wide range of habitats, from desert shrubland to open grassland.3 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 3-4 weeks egg to worker time depending on heat and feeding.
Other notes: This is a stinging species. Stings are typically mild, but may cause harm in individuals who are allergic. This is not a recommended species to keep if you are allergic to their sting. This species is sometimes raided by Neivamyrmex swainsonii army ants.3
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