Pheidole tetra colony (mated queen included )

Pheidole tetra Queen & Colony Starter Kit

Experience one of nature’s most fascinating caste systems with Pheidole tetra, a native Texas species that’s as educational as it is entertaining. Known for their dramatic contrast between tiny workers and massive-headed soldiers (majors), these ants are a living showcase of division of labor — a perfect species for beginners, classrooms, or seasoned collectors.

🧬 Why Pheidole tetra?

• Dual Caste Structure – Pheidole ants are studied extensively for their dimorphic caste system, where major and minor workers specialize in different roles (Wilson, 2003).
• Fast Growth, High Activity – Colonies expand rapidly with proper care, offering continuous engagement and observation.
• Great for Education – Their visible role differentiation makes them ideal for classrooms and learning environments.
• Compact and Adaptable – Excellent fit for test tubes or small modular ant farms.
• Native Resilience – Well adapted to Texas’s climate and conditions for long-term colony health.

What’s Included:

• Queen + Workers + Brood – A thriving starter colony with all stages of development
• Majors Included – That iconic big-headed look Pheidole fans love
• Free Feeding Dish – Makes care simple inside the transport tube
• Dual Test Tube Setup – Comes in a specially prepared shipping tube to prevent flooding during transit, plus a fully traditional test tube setup with a water reservoir ready for long-term housing
• Live Arrival Guarantee – Applies when someone is present at delivery
• Insulated Shipping Box – Includes a heat or cold pack based on your local temperature
• 2–3 Day Expedited Shipping included (select Free Shipping at checkout)
• Overnight Option Available for even faster delivery

Need help? Call or email us anytime for a step-by-step transfer walkthrough.

⚠️ Availability:

Texas Only — Due to legal and environmental regulations, Pheidole tetra is available for shipment within Texas only.

Approved shipping states are listed above. If the species you ordered cannot be legally shipped to your state, we may substitute a comparable species of equal or greater value that we are approved to ship to your location, at our discretion. If we do not have a suitable substitute available, your order will be canceled and refunded minus a 15% restocking fee.

Live arrival guarantee: your colony is covered for 7 days from delivery. To qualify you must be present to receive the package, and you must contact us within 15 minutes of the delivery notification with clear photos or video of any substantial issue. We do not use signature confirmation, so please watch your tracking and don't let the box sit outside in heat or cold.

Every live ant order ships with heat packs or ice packs and an insulated box at no extra cost. These are always included in the shipping price.

We ship live ants Monday through Wednesday only, so no colony spends a weekend in transit. During peak season the most that should pass before your order ships is 5-7 days; in slower months it's typically 2-3.