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ApprovedNot yet available
18 of 50 states

* Shipping regulations vary by state per USDA APHIS PPQ 526 permits.

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Pheidole dentata Toothed Big-headed Ants

$54.99
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Toothed Big-headed Ants
Pheidole dentata runs from Maryland south to the Florida Keys and west to Kansas and the Davis Mountains of Texas, nesting by preference in rotting logs and stumps but taking nearly anything else on offer. It is best known as the subject of Wilson's work on enemy specification: one Solenopsis scout is enough to trip a full alarm, and majors can tell a minor who has just touched a fire ant from one recruiting to sugar, apparently by the odor she carries home, and runs a trail in looping-aggressive sweeps rather than a straight line (Wilson 1975, 1976). Under heavier invasion the colony gives up the fight and absconds with its brood; Wilson kept dentata for years and found it among the easiest ants to manage in the lab, feeding voraciously and reaching maturity inside a year.

Estimated Availability
November 15, 2026
Difficulty
Beginner
Species Traits
🌗Diurnal🌗Crepuscular🍽Granivore🍽Omnivore🍽Predator🍽Trophobiont⚠Heat-Loving👑Monogynous👑Claustral Founding🔬Dimorphic🛡Moderate⚠High-Humidity🪹Soil-Nesting🔬Medium🪹TJL Sponge
Live organism — Covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Someone must be available to receive the package on delivery day. Ships Mon–Wed only.
Premium Starter Kit Included with every colony!
Not just a test tube. We give you a whole starter-kit.

Most live-ant sellers ship their ants in a test tube wrapped in paper towels. We include everything you need to get started.

  • Small Foraging Area
  • Test Tube + TJL Sponge
  • Tube Dock
  • Seed Mix Sample
  • Liquid Feeder
  • Feeding Dish

TrapJaw Labs

Pheidole dentata Toothed Big-headed Ants

Toothed Big-headed Ants
Pheidole dentata runs from Maryland south to the Florida Keys and west to Kansas and the Davis Mountains of Texas, nesting by preference in rotting logs and stumps but taking nearly anything else on offer. It is best known as the subject of Wilson's work on enemy specification: one Solenopsis scout is enough to trip a full alarm, and majors can tell a minor who has just touched a fire ant from one recruiting to sugar, apparently by the odor she carries home, and runs a trail in looping-aggressive sweeps rather than a straight line (Wilson 1975, 1976). Under heavier invasion the colony gives up the fight and absconds with its brood; Wilson kept dentata for years and found it among the easiest ants to manage in the lab, feeding voraciously and reaching maturity inside a year.

Species facts

Nesting: Soil-Nesting, TJL Sponge

Activity: Diurnal, Crepuscular

Diet: Granivore, Omnivore, Predator, Trophobiont

Care Needs: Heat-Loving, High-Humidity

Colony Type: Monogynous, Claustral Founding

Morphology: Dimorphic, Medium

Temperament: Moderate

Difficulty: Beginner

Housing that fits this species

This species fits our The Substratum.

Where we can ship it

Approved for live delivery to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

Full care guide for Pheidole dentata

Browse the species care library, see the rest of our shop, or check what we can ship to your state.