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Pogonomyrmex rugosus

: 12 mm (polygyn)
🐜: 6 – 10 mm (polymorf)
🍽️: seeds + insects
💧: 50 – 60%
🌡️: 24 – 30°C
❄️:  December – February (15-18°C)

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Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Description

This is a claustral and polygynous (multiple queens) ant species, although it can successfully establish a colony with just one queen. In their natural habitat, they nest in the soil and prefer warm, sunny, open environments. The queen and the workers have a brownish-black head and thorax, while their abdomen is lighter, with a brownish color. Like other species of the American Pogonomyrmex, this species also collects seeds, storing them in their tunnels and feed on them later. They tolerate drought well and keep their surroundings clean, making them an ideal species for an ant farm! They can be kept in a relatively dry environment with a few water sources, which prevents mites from appearing. They accumulate waste, usually in the warmest and driest corner of the enclosure, making it easy to remove. This species is polymorphic, with three different sizes of worker castes (minor, media, major). The major workers are strong and resilient, they can easily deal with harder seeds, hunt, defend the nest entrances, and are also capable of breaking through the exoskeletons of  prey insects. The minor workers are small and assist in raising the offspring and maintaining the nest. They generally neutralize their prey with their strong mandibles. They are not aggressive but are highly territorial. Mature colonies quickly neutralize any insects that enter their territory.

They should be kept in stable lighting conditions and protected from vibrations, because they are sensitive to them, vibrations can make the colony nervous and, over time, stress them. This is an active species, that makes them very exciting to observe. Their workers forage at ground level mainly. The queen is resilient, her expected lifespan can reach up to 15-20 years. They establish large colonies with thousands of  workers.

Feeding: Seeds (seed mix + oily seeds such as walnut or hazelnut) and insects.

Reproduction: They reproduce quickly in warmer conditions. In the first year, they raise 40-70 workers, and in the second year, the population can reach several hundred workers. A mature colony can have thousands of workers. As is typical for Pogonomyrmex species, the offspring develop without pupal cocoons, so the pupa is white and ant-shaped.

Hibernation: Requires hibernation at 15-18°C from December to February. More information about hibernation can be found in this video.

Additional information

Weight 0.025 kg
Dimensions 16 × 1.6 × 1.6 cm
Tartási nehézség

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Habitat

Államforma

Kolóniaméret

Dolgozó kasztok

Dolgozóméret

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Élelemigény

Páraigény

Wintering

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Sütik

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