Ant Colony Messor Barbarus (Queen and 300+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 300+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favorite and, in our opinion and that of countless other ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This very large and advanced colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a powerful group of 300 or more (300+) workers and their associated 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, the Messor barbarus grows significantly faster and more successfully than other species. While you rarely see colonies of more than a few dozen workers – of any species – from almost any provider worldwide, this is indeed possible with the harvester ant! The proof of this is immediately visible on our webshop: we are the only provider 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 Behavior and Imposing Soldiers

What makes the Messor barbarus so popular is their clever foraging behavior. Instead of solely living on sugar water and insects, workers venture into the outworld to collect seeds. They store these in special storage chambers in the nest, after which they chew the seeds finely and mix them with moisture to create nutritious 'ant bread'. With a colony of 300+ workers, there is continuous activity in the outworld, and you can observe a beautifully organized ant society, including several large Majors (soldiers) with powerful heads!

Complete Nutritional Diet Available for Order

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially curated nutritional kits. 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 the conveniences? Then choose our Deluxe nutrition kit, including a delicious nutritional jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable Habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed reserves. This colony can be kept excellent in 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.

Please 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 behind cotton wool, which keeps the nesting area at the correct moisture level. Upon receipt, the colony can remain in it for up to a few weeks without any worries. We provide a full 2-week 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 provide a free replacement colony!

Messor barbarus Specifications:

• Scientific name: Messor barbarus
• Dutch name: Oogstmier (Harvester Ant)
• Difficulty level: 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 food: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optional nutritional jelly
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster or Sand (including outworld/arena)
• Hibernation: November through February (keep slightly cooler at approx. 15°C; they often continue to grow well at room temperature as well)

Experience for yourself why the Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant and order your Messor barbarus colony (300+ workers) today from Mierenboerderij!