Desert Formica Ants (Formica perpilosa)
Formica perpilosa for sale!
Formica perpilosa is a medium-sized, eccentric species of bicolored orange/black Formica from the Western US. They are a great beginner species that accepts a wide range of food and requires some heating. Debatably, they have major workers! They grow quickly and are an exciting colony to keep!
STATES AVAILABLE TO BUY FORMICA PERPILOSA: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
Species Info
General: Formica perpilosa is a medium-sized, bicolored red/brown species from the western United States. They are accepting of lots of different foods, and the workers get very excitable and aggressive as the colony grows. They require a bit of heating! Formica perpilosa cannot sting. They are eccentric and hyper, and very showy during feeding responses!
Diet: Formica perpilosa are very generalist, accepting sugarwater or honeywater for their sugar source and basically any insect for their protein source. Fruit flies, crickets, mealworms, and roaches.
Temperature: Formica perpilosa live in the hot desert. However, they typically only live around streams or washes. They can handle heat, but it's recommended to provide a gradient. Have the hottest point of the nest at 85-88, and the coolest point in the lower 70s. They won't develop at only room temperature.
Diapause: Formica perpilosa usually needs a diapause. If these ants seem to slow down egg-laying despite continued heat and feeding, simply cool them down to the upper 40s/lower 50s for 6-10 weeks. After this period, bring them back onto heating and continue to feed protein and sugar regularly. Before long, they should return to egg-laying! During the diapause, make sure sugar is still available, as metabolism will slow but not stop entirely.
Growth: Workers take roughly 6-7 weeks to go from egg-worker. In the first year, with proper heating and feeding the colony can reach multiple hundreds of workers. In the second year, it can reach beyond 1000. Colonies seem to max out at a few thousand workers in size!
Queen size: 7-8mm
Worker size: 4-5mm
Live Arrival Guaranteed
If ants arrive in bad condition, contact us for help. Live arrival is guaranteed.
SHIPPING INFO
Shipping happens from Monday-Wednesday. During the winter, shipping may cost more due to the need of a heat pack.