5 replies to this topic

[PurdueEntomology]

Hello all!

If you are keeping or have successfully kept Pheidole megacephala or Peidole spp in general.  Is keeping the colony at an optimum temperature necessary for optimal colony growth.  Also, any suggestions on a feeding regiment. My P. megacephala colony has 9 queens but the worker numbers are dropping due to brood numbers decrease.  My suspicion is temperature for brood development. 

[ANTdrew]

I suspect Pheidole are pretty thermophilic. I'd suggest raising their temperature along with daily protein feedings. I even feed mine twice daily sometimes, eg, some meat followed by a cricket or mealworm later in the evening.

[PurdueEntomology]

I suspect Pheidole are pretty thermophilic. I'd suggest raising their temperature along with daily protein feedings. I even feed mine twice daily sometimes, eg, some meat followed by a cricket or mealworm later in the evening.

That seems reasonable.  How about housing?  I currently have them in a AntsCanada (yeah I do shop there) Hybrid Nest Mini, which is enough space but I am concerned about putting them over a heating pad with that set up.

Edited by PurdueEntomology, May 27 2021 - 7:10 AM.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Most Pheidole will grow just fine at higher room temps, (75F-78F) but they’ll appreciate and grow faster with partial heating of their nest that offers temperatures around the low to mid 80s. Daily feedings should help; fruit flies, rice flour beetle larvae, termites, and tiny roach nymphs are some of the best protein items to offer to small and growing colonies who may or may not completely devour larger, more chitinous offerings like mealworms/crickets. Small Pheidole like megacephala also appreciate a fair amount of moisture in the nest.

Something of note with Pheidole megacephala that I’ve found when rearing 50-100 queen colonies in the past is that individual queens are fairly short lived. 1-2 years seems to be the norm, though I suspect some queens can last as long as 3. In larger colonies, somewhere between 50%-75% of the previous years’ queens get culled around the time of annual alate brood production. They’re quickly replaced when alates begin to eclose and mate within the nest, after which new queens dealate and immediately begin egg production. There’s a noticeable decrease in productivity in the to-be-culled queens, namely a thinner appearance and a lack of frequent visible egg laying. I’d be wary of age if megacephala queens exhibit low production with no other explanation.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, May 27 2021 - 7:47 AM.

[PurdueEntomology]

Most Pheidole will grow just fine at higher room temps, (75F-78F) but they’ll appreciate and grow faster with partial heating of their nest that offers temperatures around the low to mid 80s. Daily feedings should help; fruit flies, rice flour beetle larvae, termites, and tiny roach nymphs are some of the best protein items to offer to small and growing colonies who may or may not completely devour larger, more chitinous offerings like mealworms/crickets. Small Pheidole like megacephala also appreciate a fair amount of moisture in the nest.

Something of note with Pheidole megacephala that I’ve found when rearing 50-100 queen colonies in the past is that individual queens are fairly short lived. 1-2 years seems to be the norm, though I suspect some queens can last as long as 3. In larger colonies, somewhere between 50%-75% of the previous years’ queens get culled around the time of annual alate brood production. They’re quickly replaced when alates begin to eclose and mate within the nest, after which new queens dealate and immediately begin egg production. There’s a noticeable decrease in productivity in the to-be-culled queens, namely a thinner appearance and a lack of frequent visible egg laying. I’d be wary of age if megacephala queens exhibit low production with no other explanation.

Excellent behavioral observations.  I will make a note.

[KitsAntVa]

Fruit flies are the best feeder insect for pheidole species until around 50 workers. Those little flies are the perfect food for the small workers to bring back to the queen and brood.

Also if you want them to grow fast I would feed them 1 fruit fly per worker.

 

Edit: Didn't realize its a big colony. I would suggest feeding a lot like drew said. These ants would rather starve themselves than eat brood because more workers means more success in their minds.

Edited by KitsAntVa, May 27 2021 - 8:10 AM.