Pogonomyrmex barbatus are among the largest harvester ants in the world.  These ants have a deep red coloration, grow very fast when well-maintained, and are some of the most active ants I have kept. 

They are almost always doing tasks such as disposing of trash, peeling seeds, feeding larvae, drinking water, etc.  Pogonomyrmex spp. in general are very beginner-friendly ants.  Seeds is the mainstay of their natural diet, but other sources of protein are accepted in the forms of various feeder insects.  They must have a heat source targeting some portion of their formicarium in order to grow.  

Tar Heel Ants has permits to ship Pogonomyrmex barbatus to the following states (where these ants are native):

Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Arkansas

***Please Read the Information on the link (here) on our Live Arrival Guarantee.***

***This listing includes queens/colonies of Pogonomyrmex barbatus found in 2023. *** 

***This Bundle Package consists of an ant colony (named in the title) and a Fallen Fortress formicarium.  Please use the options to modify your package.***

Read the following!!!!  Shipping takes place during the first part of the week, typically Monday, Tuesday and again on Saturday.  We do not ship towards the end of the week due to carriers not delivering on Sunday.  Ants are only shipped during weather conditions that are deemed safe for them to survive, so please keep that in mind as you wait on your ants to be mailed.  Each colony must be moved to a shipping container which takes 2-3 days.  Having said this, ants do not ship the same day they are ordered.  Contact us at tarheelants@gmail.com with any other questions regarding shipping.  

Why buy from Tar Heel Ants?

-Queens are hand picked from dozens of queens to be the strongest in number of brood and most actively producing queens.

-Founded in specialized founding habitats; Genesis test tube Insert system for feeding and maintenance.

-Raised on organic Dandelion Seeds (by far their most preferred founding stage seed)

-All shipped colonies are deemed to be in excellent condition at the time of shipping.  

Read the following!!!!  Shipping takes place during the first part of the week, typically Monday, Tuesday and again on Saturday. Ants are only shipped during weather conditions that are deemed safe for them to survive, so please keep that in mind as you wait on your ants to be mailed.  Each colony must be moved to a shipping container which takes 2-3 days. Normally ants do not ship the same day they are ordered.  Contact us at tarheelants@gmail.com with any other questions regarding shipping.  PLEASE DO CHOOSE SHIPPING OPTIONS THAT ARE QUOTED MORE THAN THREE DAYS.  We Recommend: USPS - Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express  UPS - Ground (if three days or less), Two Day Air, or Next Day Air.  

***This Bundle includes the Fallen Fortress (click here to see orginal product) formicarium. ***

***Use the options with this package to choose your decor, color, etc and other items needed.  If you are new to the hobby, most of these package options are recommended/required for this species.  Also, please check on the Ready-To-Ship page for Fallen Fortress versions ready to ship.  Standard time to complete a new one is around 2-3 weeks average, depending on your options chosen. PLEASE NOTE: Some of the versions of the Fallen Fortress have additional features such as a Museum Quality Box or Glow-in-the-dark features.  These costs will increase the total package price, please email us prior or soon after ordering for instructions on using these versions off the Ready To Ship pages.***

***You can send us the product name via email or type it in the comments box during checkout (for example, Fallen Fortress 1000 Red) and we will send your choice off this page at no additional charge.***

Options Available:

Seed Boost (Optional)

Heating Cable - Zoo Med Heat Cables

Nestmate Additions - Pogonomyrmex spp. are notorious for clogging up water sources, this option includes two additional nestmates and a stopper for switching them out quickly.  Cleaning once every two weeks with hot water is recommended. 

The following guide was written to answer many questions on how to care for a sister species, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis.  Many of the same care principles apply for both. There are three basic principles covered.  Food consists mainly of seeds.  The recommended heat sources are those used for reptiles such as a heating cable or reptile heating pad.  A heat lamp can also work when carefully positioned with a thermometer as a guide.   The habitat must provide high humidity and constant drinking water (we recommend the Mini Hearth or Mini Hearth XL as a founding habitat).

https://tarheelants.com/pages/pogonomyrmex-occidentalis-guide

Is there a Warranty?

Warranty:  The delivery of these ants alive is guaranteed.  Having said that, you are expected to make arrangements to be available to receive your ants if the temperature is too warm or too cold on the day of arrival.    If there is any problem with delivery you must contact us immediately by email or phone.  After the ants arrive we cannot guarantee their survival but have prepared a guide and a couple of videos to serve as tutorials to aid in getting your queen and colony setup properly.  We have put significant time and energy into putting together advice on how to best raise them so please read this PDF thoroughly.  Email us at tarheelants@gmail.com with comments or questions.

If your queen does not arrive alive please be prepared to provide evidence (this is required for replacement) and answer a few short questions so we can try to understand what may have gone wrong during shipping.  Problems are very rare but when they do occur contact us by email or phone (919) 348-3642.

How are they shipped? 

There are several layers of protection to help protect your queen(s) during shipping.  In all cases they are shipped inside our proprietary genesis inserts to keep them safe from drowning and protect their brood during shipping.   During warm conditions we will ship them ice packs.  They come inside a puncture resistant tube as well.