Special note: Live ants will not be shipped or transported across state lines and dangerous invasive species like fire ants will not be available.

The same as our 3 tube formicarium but with a colony established in it. These kits include the following:

• 3 tube formicarium
• 1 care kit (eye dropper, honey dropper, protein gel, feeding tray)
• Established colony (queen, workers, and brood)

The following species are available:

• Lasius neoniger (Black Garden Ant)
  
• Pheidole bicarinata (Big Head Ant)
  
• Brachymyrmex patagonicus (Dark Rover Ant)
  

Species profiles:

Lasius neoniger:

This is an "average" sized ant with workers measuring 3mm to 4mm. Colonies can grow to over 10,000 members so they will need larger environments to expand into as they outgrow the founding formicarium. In the northeastern United States, this commonly collected and widespread ant is found in open habitats, including farm fields, old fields and other habitats, beaches, and sand dunes. Mating swarms to occur on warm evenings following rains in late August or early September. It is likely to be ecologically very important because it is abundant in nearly every open habitat on the landscape.

Pheidole bicarinata:

This is a small species of ant with workers measuring less than 2mm in length. Majors measure 3mm to 4mm and have their signature "big heads". Colonies will grow to between 1000 and 2000 members. In the eastern United States the species favors sandy soils with some clay content. It is often abundant in open, disturbed grassy areas, such as lawns, golf courses, and abandoned fields. It is omnivorous in diet, and regularly harvests seeds.

Brachymyrmex patagonicus:

This is one of the smallest species of ant with workers just over 1mm in length. Their colony will only grow to around 500 members and can live comfortably in their 3 tube formicarium with the addition of more nesting tubes as they grow. Although B. patagonicus is a relatively recent introduction to the United States, it is now well established and abundant in both natural and disturbed areas throughout much of the Southeast, especially in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.