Pogonomyrmex maricopaSpecies Introduction

Species Introduction Often claustral: a single, newly-mated queen seals the founding chamber and rears the first workers off stored nutrients and metabolized wing muscles. May forage for seeds during the founding process. Found across the southwestern United States. Inhabits some of the harshest deserts in the country. Strictly diurnal and will seal up the nest at night. Pogonomyrmex maricopa has among the most potent insect venoms ever measured and sits at the very top of the Schmidt sting pain index — do not handle these ants. Work slowly around an open outworld, keep the setup out of reach of children and pets, and treat any sting as a medical matter if you have a known insect-sting allergy. P. maricopa are great for intermediate ant keepers that are ready for a more challenging keeping experience. Provide them with a very warm section of their nest, ensure water access, and replenish seeds frequently. Formicarium Substratum nest highly recommended, originally created as a nest for harvester ants. Alternative formicaria can struggle to maintain humidity at the high temperatures these ants require. Very warm. Ideally the nest will have a gradient of 75–95°F. A heated foraging area will cause the ants to be more active (they're strictly diurnal in the wild) but that's not strictly required for them. 3/8" or 1/2" Water & Humidity Harvester ants require humid sections of the nest for their sensitive brood stages and to soften their seeds for processing. A moisture gradient is recommended. They will store seeds in warm, dry chambers called granaries. Recommended to use TrapJaw Labs PVA sponges for founding due to improved humidity. Water-only liquid feeder in outworld useful. Carbohydrates P. maricopa will benefit from sliced, organic fruits with sugar, but they primarily consume insect protein and seeds. You are welcome to supplement the rest of their diet with honey or sugar water, but it's not necessary. Optional, they won't use it heavily. Protein P. maricopa benefit from insect protein. We suggest supplying pre-killed feeder insects 2–3 times a week. TrapJaw Labs feeds our P. maricopa colonies with pre-killed Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies, cockroach nymphs, and sliced mealworms. They will also accept sliced crickets. Two to three times per week. Increase amounts to scale with brood development. Seeds P. maricopa occasionally store collected seeds in humid areas, which can lead to germinating in the nest. If this is something you want to avoid, use the TJL Premium Seed Mix. This species prefers a wide variety of native grass seeds. 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 Weeks 1-3: Very humid, warm, dark, undisturbed. Provide a small scoop of seeds in the founding tube or formicarium. Weeks 4–6: First workers appear. Provide insect protein and first seeds. Months 2+: Colony is beginning to grow. Maintain humidity and heat constantly, their growth pattern does not tolerate fluctuating conditions. Diapause may be required for this species. Care Summary Extremely potent sting — do not handle, and know your allergy status High humidity gradient + very high heat — Substratum nest strongly recommended Protein 2–3x/week Variety of seeds (use TrapJaw seed mix to avoid germination) Hot gradient: 75–95°F across the setup Three times a week: Pre-killed protein, clear leftovers in 24h Once per week: Add varied seed mix Once per week: Top up nest water reservoir