Pheidole carrolli Species Introduction
Claustral. Single queen, sealed founding chamber, no outside food needed for the first generation.
A northern Florida endemic, recorded from only a handful of counties around Gainesville and Tallahassee. An early successional specialist of open, often disturbed sandy ground. Colonies are modest, minors can be seen foraging at night during the summer. These ants would make you think the colonies are quite small with how little activity there is. When given the chance to feed on an insect, they come out in full force. The nest entrance is hard to spot and leads to exceptionally deep vertical galleries, in one recorded case reaching 1.7 meters, with a small seed-filled granary chamber usually sitting around 30cm down. Foraging is quiet and unhurried, rarely more than fifteen minors out at once, travelling singly and mostly at dusk and in the early morning. Most distinctive of all, the sluggish minor workers feign death when disturbed, curling around soil particles in a way that makes them nearly impossible to pick out, a habit that is unusual and possibly unique within the genus.
Pheidole carrolli are surprisingly well-suited to captivity. They are fast growing, active, harvesters, with a great feeding response! Colonies get into the thousands, and can get there within their first year with proper care. Seeds are very important for P. carrolli, in the wild we believe these ants dont eat much of anything else. In captivity, these ants can be quite a bit more generalist, feeding on all sorts of insects. Seeds first, insects second. Get that right and they are truly one of the easiest, hardiest ants out there, with some of the best dimorphism in the Eastern US!
Formicarium
Substrate nests are the right call for a species that digs vertical galleries over a meter deep in the wild. The Substratum Sand Ant Nest suits them well, a mature carrolli colony may be able to comfortably live within a substratum. A fluon barrier is still sensible, though these are not energetic escape artists.
Water & Humidity
Very humid with a clear gradient. In the wild their galleries run far deeper than the surface sand, so the colony picks its own moisture level, and the granary sits in a drier chamber. Keep one end of the nest damp and leave a dry area for seed storage.
Recommended to use TrapJaw Labs PVA sponges during founding for improved success rates and more nanitics.
Keep a liquid feeder with water (distilled, purified, or spring) in the foraging area at all times. It is recommended to use the TJL Liquid Feeder for these tiny ants as the mesh prevents accidental drowning.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a minor part of their diet but still worth offering. A sugar-water feeder in the outworld is readily accepted.
Occasional small honey drop in the outworld is fine.
It is recommended to use the TJL Liquid Feeder for these tiny ants as the mesh prevents accidental drowning.
Protein
Insect protein supplements the seed diet rather than replacing it. We suggest offering protein once or twice a week, in small amounts given how few workers forage at a time. These ants will do better when given protein alongside seeds.
TrapJaw Labs feeds our P. carrolli colonies with pre-killed D. melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies as well as small pieces of mealworm.
One to two times per week. Increase amounts to scale with brood development.
Seeds
Seeds are the main component of their diet, and the colony will build a dedicated granary chamber to store them. Offer seeds weekly. If workers stop taking them, the granary is likely full, and you can ease off until they work through the stock.
This species prefers small seeds that are easy for them to handle. The TJL Seed Mix is a good place to start if unsure of what kind to offer.
Seeds can be stored in a cool, dry place or in a freezer.
Once per week
Maintenance
Week 1: Dark, warm, gently humid, and undisturbed. No food yet.
Weeks 2–4: First workers appear. Begin offering small seeds and a little protein once or twice a week. Growth is unhurried and majors take a while to show up, which is normal for this species.
Months 2+: Fast toward a mature colony of a few thousand workers. A granary chamber becomes established in the drier part of the nest.
Diapause is not required for this species.
Care Summary
- Seeds are the main diet, offered weekly
- Protein once or twice a week.
- Deep substrate nest with a dry area for the granary
- Gradient 75–88°F
- Low, crepuscular activity is normal, not a problem
- Minors play dead when disturbed