Click to view full story of "Pheidole species"

sianhilton: Pheidole species (21. Mär 2008 22:28)

I was considering keeping one of the following species:-

Pheidole megacephala
Pheidole Fervida

What are the restrictions and implications of this?
And where could I obtain such species, assuming this was legal

I think these are far east pheidole species

Regards

miszt: (21. Mär 2008 23:10)

What do you mean by restrictions and implications? Legally you can import them into the UK, but you must not release them into the wild, for fairly obvious reasons

I've not seen those specific species of Pheidole for sale, plenty of pallidula however :) You will need some experience tho, they are very small ants, and very good at escaping, add on top of that their enviroment needs

miszt: (21. Mär 2008 23:25)

this link gives a 'few' good reasons why you shouldnt keep megacephala...

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?fr=1&si=132

JimmyVe: (22. Mär 2008 09:36)

And i thought only Fire ants where a plague. Thanks for the link miszt.

It is hard to find these species, if you are interested in Pheidole species i think you better go for the pallidula . You can find them easier than the other species. (for sale i mean :) )

Like miszt said, these are very small ants and good at escaping. (i keep them myself) They grow fast and can chew through almost anything. But they are very nice ants to keep if you do it in the right way. :)

sianhilton: (22. Mär 2008 09:47)

I think I will give Pheidole megacephala a wide birth!

Thanks for the info.

JimmyVe: (22. Mär 2008 09:51)

:) I have a dairy of Pheidole pallidula here and you can find pictures of them in the dutch section here . Like is said, they are really nice ants. :)

(you also find lot of other pictures of my ants in the dutch section)

sianhilton: Pheidole Noda (6. Apr 2008 12:39)

I already have small colony of Pheidole Pallidula already, hence the interest in keeping another speices of Pheidole.

I may be able to get hold of Pheidole Noda have done some research about this species but found a small amount on the net and found a previous posting on this forum in 2003 from 'Scooby' about keeping Pheidole Noda.

http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/Taxo_E/F40605.html

Japanese ant
Workers 3mm
Soldiers 4.5mm
Large colonies
Habitat open land / woodland
Does not like dry conditions
Temperature similar to Pheidole Pallidula?
Nest substrate?
Looking to keep in Glass Y tong nest
Classified as an Exotic specirs

Can anybody provide anymore information on this species in general / experiencing in keeping them.

Regards

JimmyVe: (7. Apr 2008 17:37)

I have no experience with this species but it seems they need the same stuff like Pheidole pallidula so they would need the same care to.