74 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Update 10-29-2017
 
I still have quite a few of these colonies and they seem to be doing a little better. They aren't growing much, but the deaths seem to have stopped.
 
One of the queens that died had what looked like some sort of white fungus mixed with some cotton strands growing on its thorax. The fungus kept growing larger until the queen was finally found dead. This isn't the first time I found what looks like fungus growing on the thorax of a Pheidole xerophila queen.
 

[Derpy]

Are Pheidole easy species to keep. Or is your luck just bad at these.

[dspdrew]

I really don't know.

[AntsCalifornia]

Wow, I've been neglecting my Pheidole colony and now it only has one worker. Reading this forum makes me feel bad for letting it die out. I'm definitely going to take better care of it from now on. Don't know what type, but if this helps, the nanatics are bright orange, tiny, and transparent.

[dspdrew]

Wow, I've been neglecting my phiedole colony and now it only has one worker. Reading this forum makes me feel bad for letting it die out. I'm definitely going to take better care of it from now on. Don't know what type, but if this helps, the nanatics are bright orange, tiny, and transparent.

 

It's possible you have Solenopsis molesta, and not Pheidole. They're very common.

[AntsCalifornia]

I caught a S. molesta, so I know it's not that, and also she looks a lot like the pictures I see so I believe she's pheidole. I caught her in my pool though, and I thought pheidole where desert only and I live in a city on the other side of the mountain range that 

[dspdrew]

I caught a S. molesta, so I know it's not that, and also she looks a lot like the pictures I see so I believe she's pheidole. I caught her in my pool though, and I thought pheidole where desert only and I live in a city on the other side of the mountain range that 

 

They are not found in the desert only.

[dspdrew]

Update 1-13-2018
 

Unfortunately almost all of these have slowly died off. Right now I have just one queen left with no workers and no brood.

[Karma]

Wow. At first I was very eager and excited to try and raise a pheidole colony, but these posts make them seem really hard to get going so I’m not so sure anymore. I’m sorry all these attempts have not gone well and I hope you have more success this year.

[dspdrew]

Update 1-28-2018
 

The last queen died. I'll try again next season.

[dspdrew]

Update 7-17-2018
 

I found a few more of these queens in the desert the other day. After a few of them died, I'm left with two.

[Jake]

Update 7-17-2018
 

I found a few more of these queens in the desert the other day. After a few of them died, I'm left with two.

Dang man, Looks like you havent had much luck with that species! Wish you better luck with these queens.

[giraffedom]

I caught a bunch of these a week ago and none have died yet (fingers crossed). I put two queens together and that tube is looking most promising so far. They have the largest brood pile and the queens groom each other all the time. Have you tried this with this species? 

[dspdrew]

I might have had a few together at one time.

[TheAntGuy]

I caught two pheidole sp. Queens which so far seem to be this species. I guess we both have 2 of these then, how are yours doing currently? I just caught mine yesterday and today.

[dspdrew]

Update 12-5-2018
 

I found three more of these in Desert Center, CA after the very last storm of the summer went through on 10-14-2018.

 

Two of them got their first workers about two weeks ago. The third seems to be a dud. I just moved the two with workers into small starter formicariums.

[dspdrew]

Update 1-27-2019
 

Dead.... months ago.

[Jackie]

Are u gonna try again this season

[dspdrew]

Update 11-10-2023
 

I decided to give these a try again like I do ever year, but this time I only bothered to bring home one queen, and that one queen has now produced the biggest colony of these I've ever had.

 

I found it back around August 1st in Nipton, CA, and it got its first workers about a month later.

 

It's been about three months now and the colony is already up to around 100 workers. I don't see any majors yet, but it looks like there might be some on the way in that big pile of brood.

 

 

 

[Hiromilovesmealworms]

Yayyyyyyyy!!!! Finally.