Pheidole militicidaSpecies Introduction

Species Introduction Claustral. Single queen, sealed founding chamber, no outside food needed for the first generation. Native to the Southwestern US. Second largest Pheidole in the US closely related to Pheidole barbata and psammophila. Distinct dimorphic worker caste: small minors handle daily tasks while large, orange majors with disproportionate heads help with food-storage, colony defense, and processing food items. These ants are primarily nocturnal but will foraging in the early morning and afternoon, during the colder winter months these ants will forage during the day. Trails of Pheidole militicida can go on for hundreds of feet. These ants grow quite steadily at first, but pick up greatly in speed once they have a few hundred workers. Colonies can get massive, and will readily trail out of the nest for seeds. One of the most unique Pheidole species in the US! Formicarium Substrate or hydrostone nests work fine. A clear nest with thin chambers shows off the major/minor caste contrast. The Substratum Sand Ant Nest is recommended for these ants. A secure nest and a fluon barrier for the outworld is recommended due to large colony sizes. Warm. We suggest a gradient of 75–88°F across the setup. 1/2" due to the larger queen. Water & Humidity Moderately humid. Pheidole militicida want a humidity gradient throughout the nest to allow for seed storage in drier chambers. 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. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are recommended for Pheidole militicida. Sugar feeder in the outworld 24/7. Occasional small honey drop in the outworld is fine. We recommend providing a liquid feeder with sugar-water or Ant Nectar Mix. Protein Protein-loving. We suggest feeding protein 2–3 times a week. The more frequent the better. TrapJaw Labs feeds our P. militicida colonies with pre-killed D. melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies as well as pre-killed and cut mealworms. These ants will take most feeder insects. Two to three times per week. Increase amounts to scale with brood development. Seeds This species diet consists of primarily seeds. Seeds will be readily collected and stored within drier portions of their nest. We suggest feeding seeds 2-3x/week. If workers stop accepting seeds its likely due to granaries being full, when that happens u can slow down how many seeds are being provided. 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. Once per week Maintenance Week 1: Dark, warm, gently humid, and undisturbed. No food yet. Weeks 2–4: First workers appear. Start protein 2–3×/week. You may not see majors until the colony is larger. Months 2+: Steadily growing colony. Majors begin appearing. Will really start taking off once they are in the hundreds. Diapause is not required for this species. Care Summary Protein 2–3×/week (more is better) Seeds 1x/week Sugar via feeder 24/7 Moderate humidity Gradient 75–88°F Wait for the majors to arrive Thrice per week: Offer pre-killed protein, clear leftovers within 24h Once per week: Make sure feeder is full Once per week: Provide seeds if granaries run low Every other week: Top up nest water