Harvester ant (Messor barbarus)

Short answers

Harvester ant: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Nest from 20×15 cm plus a foraging area from 40×25 cm.

Harvester ant: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night room temperature is enough.

Harvester ant: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

Harvester ant: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: queen 15–20 years.

Harvester ant: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

room temperature is enough

Humidity

nest 50–70 %, foraging area dry at 30–50 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

nest from 20×15 cm plus a foraging area from 40×25 cm

Substrate

An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a dry sand foraging arena

Feeding

Food

Seeds and grains (grass seed, poppy) — plus the occasional insect

Feeding interval

always offer seeds, insects 1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

worker 3–14 mm (varying greatly), queen 15–18 mm

Life expectancy

queen 15–20 years

Origin

The Mediterranean

Protection status

—

Brumation

Yes, mild: December to February at 10–15 °C

Cohabitation

Colony per enclosure. Monogynous and claustral - the queen founds alone, unaided. These animals naturally live in groups. Never combine two colonies - unfamiliar animals are not readily accepted.

Notes

A seed harvester with a granary in the nest — you watch the animals carry in seeds and mill them, and that is the appeal. It becomes very populous, so plan for space from the start. The outworld has to stay dry, or the stores go mouldy.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Kenyan harvester ant (Messor cephalotes) – Intermediate
• European harvester ant (Messor structor) – Beginner
• Asian carpenter ant (Camponotus nicobarensis) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex octospinosus) – Experts
• Nylander's acorn ant (Temnothorax nylanderi) – Beginner
• European fire ant (Manica rubida) – Intermediate
• Brown-black carpenter ant (Camponotus ligniperda) – Intermediate
• Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (nest from 20×15 cm plus a foraging area from 40×25 cm), substrate (An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a dry sand foraging arena), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.