Ant Colony Messor Barbarus (Queen and 10+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 10+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favourite and, according to us and countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This starter colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a first group of 10 or more (10+) workers and the accompanying brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae).

Globally Unique: Colonies of Hundreds to Thousands of Ants

The success of this ant species speaks for itself. Thanks to their cleverness and efficient seed processing, Messor barbarus grows significantly faster and more successfully than other species. While you will find almost no other supplier in the world offering colonies of more than a few dozen workers — of any species — this is possible with the harvester ant! The proof is immediately visible in our webshop: we are the only supplier in the world that offers Messor barbarus colonies ranging from dozens and hundreds, to sometimes thousands of ants. This unique breeding expertise not only underlines how fantastically this species thrives but also makes it the ultimate 'pet ant' for long-term enjoyment.

Fascinating Behaviour and Imposing Soldiers

What makes Messor barbarus so popular is their clever foraging behaviour. Instead of only living on sugar water and insects, workers go out into the arena to collect seeds. They store these in special storage chambers in the nest, after which they chew the seeds fine and mix them with moisture to form a nutritious 'ant bread'. As the colony grows faster, different types of ants also emerge: from small workers to imposing Majors (soldiers) with strikingly large heads!

Complete Nutritional Diet Available for Order

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially formulated nutrition sets. The complete diet consists of a balanced seed mix, sugar water, honeydew, and fruit flies. Do you want to truly spoil your ants and provide yourself with all conveniences? Then choose our Deluxe nutrition set, including a delicious nutritional jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable Habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed stores. This colony is excellently suited for acrylic, plaster, and sand ant farms. Connect the included test tube directly to an outworld (arena), where the ants can 'harvest' their seeds and neatly dispose of 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 designed test tube with a water supply behind a cotton ball, which keeps the nest space at the correct moisture level. Upon receipt, the colony can remain here for up to a few weeks without any worries. We provide a 2-week full guarantee on the life and health of the queen (with proper care). Should the queen not arrive alive or die within 2 weeks, we will immediately arrange a free replacement colony!

Messor barbarus Specifications:

• Scientific name: Messor barbarus
• Dutch name: Harvester ant
• Difficulty: 1 (Easy, excellent for beginners)
• Queen size: 14 - 18 mm (Impressively large)
• Worker size: 3 - 14 mm (Develop Mediors & Majors over time)
• Colony form: Monogyn (1 queen per nest)
• Main diet: Varied seed mix (can be ordered directly)
• Supplementary feeding: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optional nutritional jelly
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster, or Sand (including outworld/arena)
• Winter dormancy: November to February (keep slightly cooler at approx. 15°C; at room temperature, they often continue to grow well)

Experience for yourself why Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant and order your Messor barbarus colony (10+ workers) today at Mierenboerderij!