Update 7-21-2020

These colonies are doing really well. The nanitics are tiny, but they aren't shy at all! They come out exploring whatever food I put in their tube. My largest colony has eleven workers so far with lots of new larvae visible.

Update 7-27-2020

I   these ants so much. M biggest colony of P. bicarinata are already up to 15 workers. They are outpacing my Tetramorium queens, believe it or not. I decided to move them into a THA mini-hearth by attaching their tube to the side entrance using mounting putty yesterday. This morning, I exposed them to a bit of sunlight, and, BAM, they finished the move in two minutes. Easiest move EVER for me. While they were moving, I noticed several of them struggling to haul a massive pupae, which could only be a major! I can't wait to see it when it ecloses. I love how bold these ants are to explore the new space.

On 7/25, my son pointed out a reddish ant digging in some spilled potting soil on our patio. When I examined it closely, it turned out to be a larger Pheidole queen that's very similar to the P. davisi queen I found last week. That's my boy!

Edited by ANTdrew, July 27 2020 - 11:27 AM.

Nice! Can't wait until that major elcoses!

Edited by Antkid12, July 27 2020 - 12:23 PM.

Also, I had no idea these were faster at growing than tetras.

Has the major eclosed yet?

Update 8-6-2020

 I currently have four colonies of these at the moment. I'm planning to give one to my brother and keep the best for my self; I'll sell the other two. My main colony is doing well in their mini-hearth. There are always two or more workers out foraging, and food sources are found in no time. They aren't showing much interest in seeds, which is kind of disappointing, but they love their insects. Maybe they will as the colony size grows? Still no majors yet, but they should be coming soon!

Yes! So happy these gals are turning out well for you! I can't wait to continue to read this journal as they develop.

Yes! So happy these gals are turning out well for you! I can't wait to continue to read this journal as they develop.

Update 8-7-2020

Quick turn around for this update, but my Phatheads got their first major! She's still super pale, so she must have eclosed overnight. It took three weeks from the first nanitic to first majors. Pardon this poo-poo photo, but it's the best I can do with my iPhone 5.

As this is the queen I'll be keeping, I'm officially naming her Alfhild. According to the Viking Sagas, Alfhild was a shieldmaiden, who commanded a fleet of war ships manned by female pirates.

Edited by ANTdrew, February 11 2021 - 9:02 AM.

Wow, she is so pale, I though she was a termite for a second.

Edited by Antkid12, August 7 2020 - 12:28 PM.

Congrats! A major surprise! 

Edited by AntsMaryland, August 7 2020 - 11:58 AM.

Update 8-12-2020

I'm really pleased with how these ants are doing. They find food sources and recruit workers faster than any of my other species. They've been absolutely crushing some termites and fruit flies I've been giving. Their behavior is a lot like Tetramorium, but they're native and bimorphic. Who wouldn't love that?

Big pile of brood and their first major:


Termite feast! The workers hauling these away are 1/3 the size!

Edited by ANTdrew, February 10 2021 - 5:36 AM.

Awesome, mine have been destroying termites too!

Well, technically, Ph. bicarinata are actually dimorphic... Nice colony though! The majors in your colony came actually pretty fast. Mine don't usually get majors till they've got at least 40 workers. My duo from the 30th of July just has some darkening pupae right now. However, my Ph. tysoni queen has 5 workers and a bunch of little larvae and pupae! Idk if there are any eggs though, as they've begun digging in the cotton...

Well, technically, Ph. bicarinata are actually dimorphic... Nice colony though! The majors in your colony came actually pretty fast. Mine don't usually get majors till they've got at least 40 workers. My duo from the 30th of July just has some darkening pupae right now. However, my Ph. tysoni queen has 5 workers and a bunch of little larvae and pupae! Idk if there are any eggs though, as they've begun digging in the cotton...

Well, technically, Ph. bicarinata are actually dimorphic... Nice colony though! The majors in your colony came actually pretty fast. Mine don't usually get majors till they've got at least 40 workers. My duo from the 30th of July just has some darkening pupae right now. However, my Ph. tysoni queen has 5 workers and a bunch of little larvae and pupae! Idk if there are any eggs though, as they've begun digging in the cotton...

Hearing that they get majors so late is very strange to me. I don't think I've ever had Pheidole get majors later than the 2nd or maybe 3rd generation, and I've kept 14 different species of Pheidole (including bicarinata ofc). Maybe it's just a regional thing.