Ant Colony Messor barbarus (Queen and 100+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

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!