armyoforigin: (23. Jul 2008 22:24)

They would do fine in room temperature but the brood will develop much slower than it should be. It is always best to try to keep the ants at the same temperature and humidity as where they come from. Well I am planning on keeping them at room temperature in the classic test tube set up, I assume she will arrive in one, which I will keep her in, and hopefully she will do well, I do not mind a slow brood cycle ;-)

They are the biggest species of Pheidole on North America and they have super majors, well as far as my understanding goes.
They are very interesting ants and I am looking forward to getting them =D

P.s if anyone could give me any information on colony size, seeds they will eat (Though I already know that most seed harvesters love grass seeds) and any other information, I would greatly appreciate it as the information seems to be rather hard to find ;-)

Thanks!

Messor cephalotes: Pheidole rhea (24. Jul 2008 03:38)

Pheidole rhea queens are 14 - 14,3 mm long ; workers 3 - 4 mm and soldiers up to 10,2 mm (HW : 3,7 mm), I don't know if this species is the largest Pheidole of the world.

armyoforigin: (24. Jul 2008 03:49)

Pheidole rhea queens are 14 - 14,3 mm long ; workers 3 - 4 mm and soldiers up to 10,2 mm (HW : 3,7 mm), I don't know if this species is the largest Pheidole of the world. No I am quite sure that P.rhea are NOT the biggest Pheidole in the world, just in North America ;-)

Yes that sounds about right, I think that the minor workers can be up to 3-4mm (Maybe 5)?, the soldiers would be, I assume 6-7mm? And the super majors (Yes they have super majors, and they 'trunk trail' forage) I would assume can go as high as the "10,2 mm".

@ Messor cephalotes: Where did you get your information may I ask? =) Also, what does: (HW : 3,7 mm) mean?

Thanks!

Phasmid: (24. Jul 2008 11:47)

HW=head width

armyoforigin: (25. Jul 2008 02:15)

HW=head width Thanks Phasmid =) from what I have seen from some images of supermajors, here: http://www.tightloop.com/ants/showspecies.php?species_id=17

They may even have a larger HW. ;-)

It is really hard to find information on ant species, in general unfortunately. =(

Messor cephalotes: Pheidole rhea (25. Jul 2008 02:16)

My information comes from "A NOTE ON PHEIDOLE (MACROPHEIDOLE) RHEA WHEELER" by Robert E. Gregg in Psyche 56 : 70 - 73 (1949)

armyoforigin: (25. Jul 2008 02:29)

My information comes from "A NOTE ON PHEIDOLE (MACROPHEIDOLE) RHEA WHEELER" by Robert E. Gregg in Psyche 56 : 70 - 73 (1949)

I have just read it. :-)

It was written in 1949 an does point out the considerable diversity within the P. rhea species.
I am taking this information with a grain of salt. ;-) AKA it is not exact.
Thanks for directing me towards it! =)

miszt: (25. Jul 2008 02:34)

HW=head width Thanks Phasmid =) from what I have seen from some images of supermajors, here: http://www.tightloop.com/ants/showspecies.php?species_id=17

They may even have a larger HW. ;-)

It is really hard to find information on ant species, in general unfortunately. =(

antweb.org and antbase.org have a pretty comprehensive database of species :)

Phasmid: (25. Jul 2008 12:16)

Damn! I was hoping to get a queen when I come back from holiday but hes sold out :violent01: .

kashmir79: (25. Jul 2008 17:51)

http://i.pbase.com/o4/27/629727/1/55110277.Pheidolerhea5.jpg

yeh their quite chunky Queens 12-13mm and supermajors stumble over alot. because of the size and weight of their head

i should be getting my queen next week.