Click Here To View Our Ants Colonies For Sale

 

WE BUY QUEEN ANTS

2026 we are looking for the following species for trade (store credit) or cash transactions .  Only 20+ queens (or healthy colonies with workers), immediately following a mating flight.  We are looking to establish a working relationship with new ant suppliers and look forward to hearing from you.

• Camponotus pennsylvanicus

• Camponotus floridanus

• Pogonomyrmex rugosus

• Novomessor cockerelli

We are always willing to talk to serious-minded folks who are willing to collect queen ants(absolutely no wild caught colonies or queens boosted with other colonies brood, only queens from nuptial flights!) in parts of the country we cannot easily access on our own (western and northern U.S. mainly).  Permits are a big part of the process of obtaining ants from others for us as a business, so you must be willing and able to include a permit in the box we e-mail to you.  Permits are provided through email to you prior to shipping.  You do not need your own permit for this!

If you have any questions please call us at 919-348-3642 or email tarheelants@gmail.com.

 

Available Species For 2026

Formica subsericea

(Available Spring 2027)

A Formica subsericea queen is the mother of our largest and oldest colony of 12 years (15k+ workers), and we have learned a lot from her and her daughters.  They have a wide range of appetites for feeder insects, fruits, and sweet liquids and are very forgiving on limited choices compared to other ants we have kept.  The colonies can get into tens of thousands over time, and heating beyond room temperature is not required (but still helpful).

Camponotus chromaiodes 

(Available Now)

Camponotus chromaiodes are a black carpenter ant with red highlights in varying proportions of red highlights from colony to colony.  Some of them like our 6 year old colony have entirely red thorax and legs, while others have red mainly under the body and legs.  They can grow into the many thousands over time, and do extremely well on a diet of fruit flies, apple slices, and honey-water.  We also feed them generous portions of our ant juice to round out their diet.  Many other foods will do just as well, but do not leave out the fruit flies (or find an equivalent)!

Tetramorium immigrans

Available Now, only via email orders.  Permits available for most states, serious inquiries only.  tarheelants@gmail.com

Camponotus pennsylvanicus 

(Coming Summer 2026)

(email us for options at tarheelants@gmail.com)

 

Pogonomyrmex rugosus 

(Available Now)

Notes: Range from 15-20 workers with healthy brood piles.  Shipping only to native range, email us for more information about our permits. 

Packages Available Now,

.

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Available Now)

Shipping Available to all lower 48 states except Florida.  Colony sizes range from 20-40.  Inquire with us via email for larger colony sizes above the packages on our Ants For Sale Pages.  

Pogonomyrmex rugosus (Available Now)

Pogonomyrmex badius (Available Now)

Myrmecocystus spp. 

(Available Now)

(5 different species available) -  See Our Ants For Sale Pages For Packages and Details.

 

 (Click Here To Browse Packages).

For a full list of ants we have available for your state, contact us at tarheelants@gmail.com or call 919-348-3642

 

Click Here To Order Ants

 

More Information On Pogonomyrmex occidentalis:

***All Colonies Come With the ORIGINAL Queen.  This queen is mother to all ants in the colony you receive with your queen.***

***These colonies have been raised in our shop located in Raleigh, NC.   Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is the only species legal to ship across state lines (excluding Florida) without a permit inside the lower 48 states.****

 

                                           

Click Here To Order

Other recommended products with ant colonies

Zoo Med Heating Cable 

Dandelion Seeds

Watch Our newest video on Pogonomyrmex occidentalis here:

                                                                                                                             

 

Appointment Availability Update:

Please call 919-348-3642 For Appointments.  We open our showroom for visitors through appointment only.  Our hours are flexible between 1pm and 7pm EST for appointments.

1. Online ordering - Please see each product (species) page for information that may be specific to that ant.  Other than the State of Florida, we can ship Pogonomyrmex occidentalis to any state without a permit.  

  Please read the rules of sales regarding these colonies below before contacting us. 

Tar Heel Ants owner, Mack Pridgen, as part of Tar Heel Ants founded in 2011, has been involved in raising queen ants and researching new methods for rearing ant colonies from queens for over 15 years.  Our formicaria are sold from our website around the world and we have suppliers in several countries. We follow all state and federal regulations for the collection and sale of the colonies listed on these pages. 

Approval was received by the NC department of Agriculture for local sales and shipping (within North Carolina) in 2011.  We have also been a permitted USDA seller beginning in 2020 to all states in the lower 48 states of the U.S.). Since 2011 we have been researching queen ant care and have developed a care regiment from our experiences and through relationships with others across the U.S.   We will be provide a maintenance and care sheet with your purchase.

1. Buyers must be 18 or have a parent or legal guardian approve the transaction.

2. A list of states we can ship ants to is located on the species page for each ant.

3.  Please call to make an appointment 919-348-3642.  Appointments only, walk-ins are not accepted.  

4. Once purchased, it is up to you to follow federal guidelines about transporting ants.  In North Carolina it is not allowed to transport ants out of the state without a proper permit. 

5. Please follow permit conditions.

6. Ants must be cared for to the best of your ability.  We are available for advice on care at tarheelants@gmail.com or by phone at 919-348-3642.   We also have a YouTube channel and FAQ section on our website with additional information on raising ants as pets.