Buy an ant colony? Healthy ants for your ant farm

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!

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 20+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favorite and, in our opinion and that of countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This established colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a nice group of 20 or more (20+) workers and the 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, 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 can be seen directly 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 impressive soldiers

What makes Messor barbarus so popular is their clever foraging behavior. Instead of just 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 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 impressive Majors (soldiers) with strikingly large heads!

Complete nutrition diet available to order directly

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially formulated feeding 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 feeding set, including a delicious feeding jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed stores. This colony can be excellently kept in ant farms made of acrylic, plaster, and sand. 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 designed test tube with a water supply behind a cotton ball, which keeps the nest space at the correct moisture level. After receipt, the colony can remain in it for 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 provide 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 into Mediors & Majors over time)
• Colony form: Monogyn (1 queen per nest)
• Main food: Varied seed mix (can be ordered directly)
• Supplementary food: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optional feeding jelly
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster, or Sand (including outworld/arena)
• Hibernation: November to February (keep slightly cooler at approx. 15°C; they often continue to grow well at room temperature)

Experience for yourself why Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant species and order your Messor barbarus colony (20+ workers) today from Mierenboerderij!

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 50+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (European Harvester Ant): our absolute favorite and, according to us and countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This already beautifully developed colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a substantial group of 50 or more (50+) workers and the corresponding brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae).

Globally unique: Colonies from 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 will find almost no other supplier in the world offering colonies with more than a few dozen workers—of any species—this is precisely what you can find with the harvester ant! You'll see the proof immediately on our webshop: we are the only supplier in the world offering Messor barbarus colonies ranging from dozens and hundreds, to sometimes even 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 impressive soldiers

What makes Messor barbarus so popular is their smart foraging behavior. Instead of just living on sugar water and insects, workers venture 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'. With a size of 50+ workers, you will often already see the first larger workers and impressive Majors (soldiers) with strikingly large heads appearing!

Complete nutrition diet available for direct order

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

Suitable habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed reserves. This colony can be excellently kept 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 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 behind a cotton ball, which keeps the nest area 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). 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: Monogyne (1 queen per nest)
• Main diet: Varied seed mix (available for direct order)
• Supplementary diet: 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)

Experience for yourself why the Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant and order your Messor barbarus colony (50+ workers) today from Mierenboerderij!

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 100+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favorite and, according to us and countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This advanced colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a mighty group of 100 or more (100+) workers and the 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, Messor barbarus grows significantly faster and more successfully than other species. While you'll find hardly any colonies of more than a few dozen workers—of any species—from almost any supplier worldwide, this is indeed 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 dozens and hundreds, to sometimes even 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 impressive soldiers

What makes Messor barbarus so popular is their clever foraging behavior. Instead of living only on sugar water and insects, workers venture into the outworld to collect seeds. They store these in special storerooms in the nest, after which they chew the seeds finely and mix them with moisture to form nutritious 'ant bread'. With a colony of 100+ workers, there is continuous activity in the outworld, and clear role divisions are already present, including impressive Majors (soldiers) with powerful mandibles!

Complete nutritional diet available for immediate 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 pamper your ants and provide yourself with all conveniences? Then choose our Deluxe nutrition kit, including a delicious nutritional jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable habitats

Harvester ants highly appreciate space for their seed stores. This colony can be kept excellently 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.

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 humidity level. Upon receipt, the colony can remain in it carefree for up to a few weeks. 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: 1 (Easy, excellent for beginners)
• Queen size: 14 - 18 mm (Impressively large)
• Worker size: 3 - 14 mm (Develop Mediors & Majors over time)
• Colony type: Monogyne (1 queen per nest)
• Main food: Varied seed mix (available for immediate order)
• Supplementary food: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optional nutritional jelly
• Recommended nest type: Acrylic, Plaster, or Sand (including outworld/arena)
• Hibernation: November to 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 Messor barbarus colony (100+ workers) today at Mierenboerderij!

Messor barbarus Ant Colony (Queen and 200+ Workers)

Meet the Messor barbarus (Southern European Harvester Ant): our absolute favorite and, in our opinion and that of countless ant keepers, the most enjoyable ant species to keep as a pet! This spacious and already well-developed colony consists of an impressively large queen (gyne) with a mighty group of 200 or more (200+) workers and the corresponding 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 intelligence and efficient seed processing, 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 supplier worldwide, this is indeed possible with the harvester ant! You can see the proof directly on our webshop: we are the only provider in the world that offers Messor barbarus colonies ranging from dozens and hundreds, to sometimes even 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-lasting enjoyment.

Fascinating Behavior and Imposing Soldiers

What makes 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 pantry chambers in the nest, after which they chew the seeds fine and mix them with moisture to form a nutritious 'ant bread'. With a colony of 200+ workers, the outworld is bustling with life, and you continuously see activity among the smaller workers, the mediors, and several imposing Majors (soldiers) with powerful jaws!

Complete Nutrition Diet Available for Direct Order

Make caring for your colony easy from day one with our specially curated 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 every convenience? Then choose our Deluxe nutrition set, including a delicious nutrient jelly, a handy dosing pipette, and a feeding dish!

Suitable Habitats

Harvester ants greatly appreciate space for their seed stores. This colony can be excellently housed 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 a cotton ball, which keeps the nest space at the correct moisture level. Upon receipt, the colony can remain here without worry for up to a few weeks. 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 provide a free replacement colony!

Messor barbarus Specifications:

• Scientific name: Messor barbarus
• Common 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: Monogynous (1 queen per nest)
• Main food: Varied seed mix (can be ordered directly)
• Supplementary food: Sugar/honey water, fruit flies, and optionally nutrient 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)

Experience for yourself why Messor barbarus is the absolute top ant and order your Messor barbarus colony (200+ workers) today from Mierenboerderij!

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!

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!

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

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

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

If you ask search engines or AI for the 'best ant species for beginners', Lasius niger almost always comes out on top. This is logical: they are incredibly strong, easily forgive a beginner's mistake, and have few demands on their environment.

However, from our years of expertise, we know that many ant keepers enjoy other species even more. If you are 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 develop and care for, and often offer a bit more spectacle in the nest and outworld!

Suitable habitats and care

Do you still choose the familiar Lasius niger? Excellent choice! This colony is suitable for acrylic, plaster, and sand ant farms. In the initial phase, the colony will have plenty of space in the provided test tube. However, we recommend connecting the test tube to a small outworld so that the workers can easily collect their food (sugar water and small insects such as fruit flies) and remove 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 designed test tube with a water supply that keeps the nest optimally moist. Upon receipt, the colony can remain in it for up to a few weeks without any worries. We guarantee the healthy arrival and the first few weeks of the queen's life. Should something unexpectedly go wrong, we will immediately provide a suitable solution or a replacement colony!

Specifications Lasius niger:

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

Do you want to start calmly with the most trusted ant species in the Netherlands? Order your Lasius niger colony (5-15 workers) today at Antfarm!