Pheidole indica
An Asian big-headed ant that grows quickly and needs no hibernation. A good first colony.
Species at a glance
- Origin: South and Southeast Asia, from India to Japan and the Indo-Australian islands
- Size: queen 5–6.5 mm; minors 1.8–3.5 mm, majors larger
- Colony: up to 10,000 workers; may later have several queens
- Difficulty: suitable for beginners
Care conditions
- Temperature: 22–30 °C
- Humidity: 50–70%
- Food: small insects 2–3 times a week, sugars (diluted honey, syrup) and optionally a few small seeds, which the big-headed majors crack
Hibernation
Not needed: the colony stays active all year.
Farm and colony growth
The queen founds the colony alone and needs no food until the first workers appear; a young colony lives in a test tube until it gets crowded. Small workers squeeze through the tiniest gaps: use a tight lid, fine mesh on the vents and an anti-escape barrier.