Pheidole parva

Name: Pheidole parva
Origin: Tropical Asia and Africa (e.g. India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar)
Queen: approx. 5 – 6 mm
Workers: Minor: approx. 1.5 – 2 mm / Major: approx. 2.5 – 3 mm
Food: Carbohydrates (e.g. honey, sugar water, agave syrup), proteins (e.g. cockroaches, flies, crickets, small insects)
Humidity: Arena: 50 – 70%
Nest: 60 – 80%
Temperature: Arena: 24 – 28 degrees
Nest: 24 – 28 degrees
Hibernation: No, no hibernation necessary!
Nest type: We recommend moist 3D nests, acrylic with humidity chambers, or Ytong with a fine structure – ideal for small species!
Colony size: Very large, up to several thousand workers

Advantages and disadvantages of the species Pheidole parva:

Advantages:
Pheidole parva is a very active and hardworking species. It forms great roads and has an exciting caste system through its soldiers (majors).

Disadvantages:
Due to their small size, escape security and food waste can pose challenges. The colony can grow very quickly, so regular monitoring and good ventilation are necessary.

Attitude:
Pheidole parva is easy to keep but requires a well-secured setup because it is very small.

A test tube with a small arena (10×10 cm) is sufficient to start with. Later, you should expand to a nest with a fine structure and an arena of at least 20×20 cm. Due to their small size, they can exploit the smallest cracks, so escape protection (e.g., talc or PTFE) is particularly important.

Feeding:
Offer proteins such as cockroaches, flies or crickets every 2 – 3 days.

Carbohydrates such as honey or sugar water are often taken

Hibernation:
Pheidole parva does not require hibernation as it comes from tropical regions.

The colony is active year-round. Maintain a constant temperature of at least 24 degrees Celsius to prevent brood care and growth from stagnating.

Even during quieter phases, carbohydrates should be offered continuously, and proteins can then be reduced.