Prenolepis imparis, also known as Winter Ants or False Honeypot Ants, is a remarkable species celebrated for its deep underground nests and unique cold-weather foraging habits. These ants, native to North America, build nests as deep as 3.6 meters below the ground surface to maintain themselves in the coolest chambers during the year's warmest months.
They actively forage during colder periods, sometimes even below freezing, avoiding competition with other ant species that cannot tolerate such low temperatures. Another distinguishing feature of this species is the presence of repletes, workers who store fat reserves in their distended gasters.
Not only does Prenolepis imparis display remarkable adaptability in various environments, but the species is also known for its polygynous colonies with relatively small worker populations. Winter Ants are timid, avoiding direct sunlight and being most active in the shade or on cool, cloudy days.
Their diet consists of liquids, including honeydew from aphids and coccids, nectar from flowers and extrafloral nectaries, exudates from living oak galls, juices from dead earthworms, and young plant tissues. They are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on various liquid and semi-liquid food sources.
Prenolepis imparis are very calm ants, ideal for beginners who prefer a species that does not require constant attention. Their serene nature means they do not get easily stressed, making them less prone to defensive behaviors.
These ants exhibit long periods of inactivity during several times of the year, living off the food stored in the gasters of their repletes. This unique behavior allows them to thrive without constant foraging, making them a low-maintenance option.
Female and male alates fly around mid-January to March, with the largest flights in early February. The worker count of multi-queen colonies can reach up to 10,000 ants over 7-9 years, providing a long-term opportunity to observe and study the colony’s growth and development.
This species thrives in groups with multiple queens, so it is recommended that several be placed together in the same test tube. If you order more than one QUEEN ONLY in the same order, we will group them for you; once workers are present, each colony ships independently.
Every queen (or starter colony) ships in a pre-assembled test-tube setup. Components are listed in the “Included Queen Test Tube Setup” info section. For the full breakdown of all options and why we use them, see "Test Tube Components Explained".
Note: Live ants ONLY SHIP within CANADA.
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