Ant Colony Messor Barbarus (Queen and 1000+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 1000+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favourite and, in our opinion and that of countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This gigantic, mature colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a mighty army of no fewer than 1000 or more (1000+) workers and a huge amount of 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 almost no provider worldwide offers colonies of more than a few tens of workers — of any species — this is possible with the harvester ant! You can see the proof directly in our webshop: we are the only provider in the world that offers Messor barbarus colonies ranging from tens and hundreds, to sometimes thousands of ants. This unique breeding expertise not only highlights how wonderfully this species thrives, but also makes it the ultimate 'pet ant' for long-term enjoyment.

Fascinating Behavior and Impressive Soldiers

What makes Messor barbarus so popular is their clever foraging behavior. Instead of living solely on sugar water and insects, workers venture out 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 form a nutritious 'ant bread'. With a mega-colony of 1000+ workers, you bring a full-fledged ant city into your home. The division of labor is perfectly organized, and there are numerous impressive Majors (soldiers) with gigantic heads and strong mandibles!

Complete Nutritional Diet Available for Direct 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 nutrition jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable Habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed stores. A colony of this size needs a spacious nest. This colony is excellent for keeping in large ant farms made of acrylic, plaster, and sand. Connect the colony directly to a generous outworld (arena), where the ants can continuously '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 a cotton ball, which keeps the nest space at the correct moisture level. Upon receipt, the colony can remain in it for up to a few weeks without worry. We provide a 2-week full guarantee on the life and health of the queen (with proper care). If the queen does not arrive alive or dies within 2 weeks, we will immediately arrange 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 (Fully developed Mediors & numerous Majors)
• Colony type: Monogyn (1 queen per nest)
• Main food: Varied seed mix (can be ordered directly)
• Supplementary food: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optionally nutrition jelly
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster, or Sand (including a spacious outworld/arena)
• Hibernation: November through February (keep slightly cooler at approx. 15°C; they often continue to grow well at room temperature too)

Experience for yourself why Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant and order your gigantic Messor barbarus colony (1000+ workers) today from Mierenboerderij!