Ant Colony Messor Barbarus (Queen and 20+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

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!