Ant Care

Lasius niger Care Sheet

Common Name: Black Garden Ant
Scientific Name: Lasius niger
Difficulty Level: Beginner

Colony Setup

Founding Stage:

  • A Lasius niger queen can start a colony alone (fully claustral). She does not require food until her first workers emerge.

  • Keep her in a test tube setup with clean water and a cotton ball to maintain humidity.

  • Store the test tube in a dark, quiet place at 22-26°C (72-78°F).

Moving to a Nest:

  • Once the colony has 20-50 workers, they can be moved to a formicarium.

  • Use a natural nest (e.g., acrylic, plaster, or ytong) with a connected outworld for foraging.

  • Avoid excessive space, as it can stress the colony.

Temperature & Humidity

  • Ideal Temperature: 22-26°C (72-78°F)

  • Humidity:

    • Brood chamber: 50-70%

    • Outworld: Dry (30-50%)

  • Provide a heating cable or mat on one side of the nest to create a temperature gradient.

Diet & Feeding

Lasius niger are omnivores, primarily feeding on sugars and proteins.

  • Sugars: Essential for energy. Offer honey, sugar water, or fruit.

  • Proteins: Needed for brood development. Provide insects (fruit flies, mealworms, crickets) or cooked egg.

  • Feeding Frequency: Every 2-3 days for small colonies, daily for larger colonies.

  • Remove uneaten food to prevent mold and mites.

Hibernation

  • Occurs from November to March (depending on location).

  • Reduce temperature to 10-15°C (50-59°F).

  • Minimal feeding is needed, but provide access to water.

  • Resume normal temperatures in spring for colony activity.

Colony Growth & Behavior

  • Colonies grow rapidly and can reach thousands of workers in a few years.

  • Highly active and efficient foragers.

  • Will explore and escape if given the chance—secure enclosures are a must.

  • Lasius niger queens can live up to 20 years!

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

  • Mold in Test Tube: Replace with a fresh test tube setup.

  • Low Activity: Check temperature, food supply, and ensure colony isn't in hibernation.

  • Escaping Workers: Improve barrier protection (fluon, talcum powder mix) and check for gaps.

  • Mites/Pests: Remove contaminated food and clean the setup if needed.

Fun Facts

  • Lasius niger workers can live up to 2 years.

  • They communicate using pheromones to guide nestmates to food.

  • Some queens survive for weeks without workers if conditions are stable.

 

Messor barbarus Care Sheet

Common Name: Harvester Ant
Scientific Name: Messor barbarus
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Colony Setup

Founding Stage:

  • Messor barbarus queens are semi-claustral, meaning they may require food during founding.

  • Keep the queen in a test tube setup with a water reservoir and a cotton plug.

  • Provide tiny seeds or small insect proteins if she feeds during founding.

  • Store the test tube at 22-26°C (72-78°F) in a dark, quiet place.

Moving to a Nest:

  • Once the colony has 20-50 workers, they can be moved to a formicarium.

  • A naturalistic nest (e.g., acrylic, ytong, or soil-based) works best.

  • Ensure an outworld is connected for foraging.

  • Avoid excessive humidity, as Messor barbarus prefer dry conditions.

Temperature & Humidity

  • Ideal Temperature: 22-28°C (72-82°F)

  • Humidity:

    • Brood chamber: 50-60%

    • Outworld: Dry (30-40%)

  • A heat cable or mat can be placed on one side of the nest for warmth.

Diet & Feeding

Messor barbarus are granivorous, meaning they primarily eat seeds but will also consume proteins.

  • Seeds: Grass seeds, bird seeds, millet, flax, and chia seeds.

  • Proteins: Occasional small insects (mealworms, crickets) for brood development.

  • Feeding Frequency: Offer fresh seeds weekly, and insects every few days.

  • Store-bought ant seed mixes are available and ideal.

  • Remove uneaten food to prevent mold and mites.

Hibernation

  • Hibernation occurs from November to February.

  • Reduce temperature to 15-18°C (59-64°F).

  • Minimize feeding but ensure they have access to water.

  • Resume normal temperatures in spring.

Colony Growth & Behavior

  • Polymorphic workers (varied sizes) help in different tasks.

  • Colonies can reach thousands of workers over several years.

  • They store seeds in granaries inside the nest.

  • Workers can live 1-2 years, while queens can live up to 25 years.

  • Secure enclosures are necessary to prevent escapes.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

  • Mold in Nest: Keep humidity low and remove uneaten food.

  • Inactive Workers: Check temperature, food availability, and hydration.

  • Escaping Workers: Apply escape prevention barriers (fluon, talcum powder).

  • Mites/Pests: Remove contaminated food and clean the setup if necessary.

Fun Facts

  • Messor barbarus workers have a caste system with minor and major workers.

  • They de-husk and store seeds in their nest’s granary.

  • Some colonies have multiple queens (pleometrosis), but only one may survive long-term.

 

Camponotus japonicus Care Sheet

Common Name: Japanese Carpenter Ant
Scientific Name: Camponotus japonicus
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Colony Setup

Founding Stage:

  • Camponotus japonicus queens are fully claustral, meaning they do not require food until the first workers emerge.

  • Keep the queen in a test tube setup with a water reservoir and a cotton plug.

  • Store the test tube in a dark, undisturbed place at 22-26°C (72-78°F).

Moving to a Nest:

  • Once the colony has 20-50 workers, they can be moved to a formicarium.

  • Preferred nest types include acrylic, ytong, or wooden setups (avoid excessive moisture in wooden nests to prevent mold).

  • Provide an outworld for foraging.

  • Maintain a moderate level of humidity to support healthy brood development.

Temperature & Humidity

  • Ideal Temperature: 22-28°C (72-82°F)

  • Humidity:

    • Brood chamber: 50-70%

    • Outworld: Dry (30-50%)

  • A heat cable or mat can be used on one side of the nest to create a temperature gradient.

Diet & Feeding

Camponotus japonicus are omnivores, requiring both sugars and proteins.

  • Sugars: Honey, sugar water, or fruit (provides energy for workers).

  • Proteins: Insects (mealworms, crickets, fruit flies) or cooked egg for brood development.

  • Feeding Frequency: Every 2-3 days for small colonies, daily for larger colonies.

  • Remove uneaten food to prevent mold and mites.

Hibernation

  • Hibernation occurs from November to March.

  • Reduce temperature to 10-15°C (50-59°F).

  • Minimize feeding but ensure they have access to water.

  • Resume normal temperatures in spring to encourage activity.

Colony Growth & Behavior

  • Polymorphic workers (varied sizes) perform different roles within the colony.

  • Growth is moderate to slow, but colonies can reach thousands of workers over several years.

  • They are primarily nocturnal, becoming more active at night.

  • Secure enclosures are necessary, as they are strong climbers.

  • Camponotus japonicus queens can live up to 20 years!

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

  • Mold in Test Tube: Replace with a fresh test tube setup.

  • Low Activity: Check temperature, food supply, and ensure colony isn’t in hibernation.

  • Escaping Workers: Improve barrier protection (fluon, talcum powder mix) and check for gaps.

  • Mites/Pests: Remove contaminated food and clean the setup if needed.

Fun Facts

  • Camponotus japonicus is one of the largest ant species in Japan, with queens reaching 15-18mm in size.

  • They are excellent climbers and can scale smooth surfaces with ease.

  • Workers use pheromones to communicate and guide nestmates to food sources.

More coming soon, please email if your ant species in not on here and we will give you information within 3 days.