Pheidole xerophilaSpecies Introduction

Species Introduction Claustral. Single queen, sealed founding chamber, no outside food needed for the first generation. Native to the Southwestern US. Small heat-loving seed harvesters similar to Pheidole militicida and barbata, but on a smaller scale. In the wild, these ants will trail goings tens of feet in search of seeds. Distinct dimorphic worker caste: tiny minors handle daily tasks while majors with disproportionate heads help with food-storage, colony defense, and processing food items. Fast-growing, very active species with two visible worker castes. These ants have relatively average-sized colonies when compared to some other seed specialists. Colonies and will actively trail out of the nest in search for seeds. Give these ants what they need (seeds), and they will grow accordingly. 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 for these small ants. Warm. We suggest a gradient of 75–92°F across the setup. 3/8" works well for this smaller species. Water & Humidity Humid. Pheidole xerophila 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 recommended for Pheidole xerophila. 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. xerophila 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 you 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+: Rapidly growing colony. Majors begin appearing. They'll handle a lot of protein and grow accordingly. 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 75–92°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