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Pheidole

Ant genus · 1173 species · 140 countries

Genus
Pheidole
Subfamily
Myrmicinae
Tribe
Attini
Distribution
Found in 140 countries
Colony form
monogynous, polygynous, optionally polygynous
Nuptial flight
Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Species count
1173 species (8 fossil)

About Pheidole

Pheidole is a genus within the family Formicidae , classified in the subfamily Myrmicinae (tribe Attini) . AntScout currently documents 1173 species in this genus, distributed across 140 countries , including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola.

Species in this genus exhibit monogynous and polygynous and optionally polygynous colony structures. Monogynous colonies have a single reproductive queen, making them straightforward to start from a single founding queen - ideal for beginner ant keepers. Polygynous colonies can host multiple queens, allowing for rapid colony growth.

Nuptial flights of Pheidole species have been recorded during: Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. These flights are when new queens and males leave the nest to mate - the best time to find a founding queen in the wild.

Where Pheidole Is Found

Species in this genus are documented in 140 countries:

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAngolaAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArubaAustraliaAzerbaijanBarbadosBolivia, Plurinational State ofBotswanaBrazilBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoCabo VerdeCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCôte d'IvoireDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEswatiniFijiFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuineaGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofItalyJamaicaJapanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofLao People's Democratic RepublicLesothoLiberiaLibyaMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMartiniqueMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesia, Federated States ofMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorfolk IslandPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPortugalPuerto RicoRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSolomon IslandsSouth AfricaSpainSri LankaSurinameSwitzerlandTaiwan, Province of ChinaTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTürkiyeUgandaUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet NamVirgin Islands (British)Virgin Islands (U.S.)Wallis and FutunaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Frequently Asked Questions

How many species does Pheidole have?

The genus Pheidole includes 1173 species documented on AntScout, spread across 140 countries. 8 of these are fossil species.

Where do Pheidole ants live?

Pheidole species are found in 140 countries , including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola. Distribution varies by species - check individual species pages for precise range maps.

When do Pheidole ants have their nuptial flight?

Nuptial flights of Pheidole species have been observed in Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. This is the best time to find a founding queen in the wild. Use the AntScout flight calendar for species-specific predictions.

Can I buy Pheidole ants?

Pheidole ants may be available from ant dealers depending on your region. Some species are popular in the hobby and regularly sold as founding queens or small colonies. Check local antkeeping communities or specialty shops in your country.

Are Pheidole ants good for beginners?

This depends on the specific species. Some Pheidole species are beginner-friendly with straightforward care requirements, while others may need specific conditions. Browse the individual species profiles below for care difficulty and requirements.

All Pheidole Species (1173)

Click a species to view its full profile, including distribution map, care information, nuptial flight calendar, and identification photos.