Ant colony 5-15 Lasius Niger (Queen and workers) - Black garden ant

Ant colony 5-15 Lasius niger (Queen and Workers)

Lasius niger, better known as the Black Garden Ant in English, is undoubtedly the most well-known ant species in Western Europe. This colony consists of a healthy queen (gyne) along with her first 5 to 15 self-raised workers and brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae). A fantastic species for seeing up close how an ant colony develops right from the very beginning!

Search engines recommend Lasius niger... but is it the most fun choice?

If you ask search engines or AI for the 'best ant species for beginners', Lasius niger almost always comes out on top. That makes sense: they are incredibly hardy, easily forgive a beginner's mistake, and have few requirements for their environment.

However, based on our years of expertise, we know that many ant keepers get even more enjoyment from a different species. Are you looking for an ant colony that grows faster, displays remarkably intelligent behavior, and is fascinating to feed with seeds? Then definitely take a look at our popular harvester ants (Messor barbarus). These ants make their own 'ant bread' from seeds, are easier to raise and care for, and often offer just that little bit more spectacle in their nest and arena!

Suitable habitats and care

Have you decided to go with the trusted Lasius niger after all? Excellent choice! This colony is suitable for acrylic, plaster, and sand ant farms. In the initial phase, the included test tube provides more than enough space. However, we do recommend connecting the test tube to a small arena (outworld) so the workers can easily collect their food (sugar water and small insects like fruit flies) and remove waste.

Note: This ant colony is intended for sand, plaster, and acrylic nests. Are you looking for ants for a gel ant farm? Then choose our special Ant Family for Gel.

Packaging, shipping, and health guarantee

You will receive the colony in a specially prepared test tube with a water supply that keeps the nest optimally moist. Upon receipt, the colony can stay in this for up to a few weeks without any worries. We provide a guarantee on the safe arrival and the first few weeks of the queen's life. If something unexpectedly goes wrong, we will immediately provide a suitable solution or a replacement colony!

Specifications Lasius niger:

• Scientific name: Lasius niger
• Common name: Black garden ant
• Difficulty level: 1 (Suitable for beginners)
• Queen size: 8 - 9 mm
• Worker size: 3 - 6 mm
• Colony type: Monogynous (1 queen per nest)
• Diet: Sugar/honey water and small insects (such as fruit flies)
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster, or Sand (including outworld/arena)
• Hibernation: November through February (keep slightly cooler at 10-15°C, although they often continue to grow well at room temperature)

Would you like to start calmly with the most trusted ant species in the Netherlands? Order your Lasius niger colony (5-15 workers) today from Mierenboerderij!