Ant Colony Messor Barbarus (Queen and 200+ Workers) - Harvester Ant

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!