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Pogonomyrmex californicus California Harvester Ants

$34.99
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California Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex californicus is a harvester of sandy ground from southern California and Baja east through Arizona into western Texas, raising a loose crater about 20 cm across and leaving the vegetation around it standing rather than clearing the bare disc its larger congeners keep, over a nest two meters deep holding some two thousand workers. It works through the heat of the day, and you can read the cost in how it moves: stiff-legged with the gaster hoisted clear of the sand, climbing onto pebbles and small stones to get up off the surface and wave its legs in the air (Mackay & Mackay 2002).

Difficulty
Beginner
Species Traits
🪹Mound-Builder🌗Diurnal🍽Granivore🍽Omnivore⚠Heat-Loving👑Monogynous👑Semi-Claustral🔬Monomorphic🛡Moderate⚡Stinging🪹Soil-Nesting🔬Large
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Colony Care Kit Included with every colony!
Not just a test tube. We give you a whole Colony Care 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

Pogonomyrmex californicus California Harvester Ants

California Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex californicus is a harvester of sandy ground from southern California and Baja east through Arizona into western Texas, raising a loose crater about 20 cm across and leaving the vegetation around it standing rather than clearing the bare disc its larger congeners keep, over a nest two meters deep holding some two thousand workers. It works through the heat of the day, and you can read the cost in how it moves: stiff-legged with the gaster hoisted clear of the sand, climbing onto pebbles and small stones to get up off the surface and wave its legs in the air (Mackay & Mackay 2002).

Species facts

Nesting: Mound-Builder, Soil-Nesting

Activity: Diurnal

Diet: Granivore, Omnivore

Care Needs: Heat-Loving

Colony Type: Monogynous, Semi-Claustral

Morphology: Monomorphic, Large

Temperament: Moderate

Special Trait: Stinging

Difficulty: Beginner

Housing that fits this species

This species fits our The Substratum.

Where we can ship it

Approved for live delivery to Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah.

Full care guide for Pogonomyrmex californicus

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