Pheidole bicarinata is a small, active species of Big-Headed Ant native to North America. Like other Pheidole, colonies contain two distinct worker castes: tiny minor workers alongside impressive major workers or "soldiers", easily recognised by their disproportionately large heads.
 
Don't let their size fool you! Once established, colonies are incredibly active and display an impressive feeding response, rapidly recruiting workers to protein while majors help break apart larger prey items. Their variable yellow, orange and reddish-brown colouration makes them particularly attractive. 
 
Queens are fully claustral and colonies can grow surprisingly quickly when kept warm with regular access to protein. We recommend temperatures of around 24-28°C, alongside a moderately humid nest (50-70%) and constant access to fresh water.
 
Pheidole bicarinata readily accept nectar alongside fruit flies, mealworms, roaches and other feeder insects. As colonies develop and brood numbers increase, their appetite for protein can become particularly impressive!
 
Young colonies should be kept in a test tube or small founding setup before gradually being given more space. Due to their tiny worker size and ability to recruit quickly, good escape prevention is essential.
 
Overall, Pheidole bicarinata is a fantastic choice for keepers looking for a small but bustling species with rapid growth, impressive feeding behaviour and one of the most recognisable major castes in the ant world.
 
Queen size: 5-6mm
Worker size: 2-3mm
Major size: 3-4mm
Colony structure: Loosely polygynous, one queen may only eventually remain 
Founding: Fully claustral
Temperature: 24–28°C
Difficulty: Beginner-intermediate
Distribution: North America
 
It is illegal and strictly frowned upon to release any non-native ants into the wild.