ANTS HQ / KEEPING GUIDES
Meet four beginner favourites
INTRODUCTION
Not all beginner ants are alike. Some collect seeds, some love a damp nest, and others are big enough to watch every little movement. Here are four favourites, each with something different to offer.
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Common black garden ants:Lasius niger
You've probably seen these ants in the garden. They're familiar for a reason, but there's a lot more to them once you get a closer look.
Put out a little food and you might see one worker turn into a whole team. They're small, active as their colony grows, and brilliant for watching how ants work together.
A good fit if: you'd like a familiar, adaptable species and enjoy watching a colony become busier over time.
The care to plan for: a suitable moisture supply in the nest, drinking water, sugary food such as ant nectar, and small portions of feeder insects. They also have a seasonal winter rest. Small colonies may stay in their test tube for a while; there's no need to hurry them into a larger nest.
KEEPING ESSENTIALS
Two more beginner favourites
British red ants: Myrmica rubra
These reddish-brown native ants are often found in damp places. Established colonies can have more than one queen, which makes them especially interesting to observe.
They're keen to investigate food, and you'll often see several workers busy around the same meal. Their queens aren't always as easy to spot as those of other species.
A good fit if: you're interested in a native species and can keep on top of nest moisture.
The care to plan for: a consistently moist but not flooded, nest, drinking water, sugary food and feeder insects. Their preference for damp conditions makes drying out a particular concern. They need a seasonal winter rest and can sting, so keep them contained and don't handle them. Multiple queens in an established colony are not an invitation to add unfamiliar queens yourself.
European harvester ants: Messor barbarus
Give these ants some suitable seeds and watch them get to work. Workers collect them, carry them home and build up their stores. As the colony grows, you'll also start to see workers of different sizes.
It's like having a tiny store room in your ant farm. Watching them gather and process their food is one of the best things about keeping this species.
A good fit if: you like the idea of watching seed collection and food storage.
The care to plan for: suitable small seeds, fresh drinking water and occasional feeder insects. They need moisture for their young and a drier area for seed storage. Seeds kept wet can sprout or spoil, so soaking the whole nest isn't the answer. Check their temperature requirements and seasonal rest guidance before choosing a spot for them.
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
European carpenter ants:Camponotus ligniperda
Big, bold and easy to watch, these carpenter ants have dark bodies with reddish colouring. Their size makes it easier to spot grooming, antennae touching and workers tending their young.
They do take their time, especially as a young colony. If you're happy to watch them grow at their own pace, they're a lovely choice.
A good fit if: you'd prefer larger ants and don't mind slower progress.
The care to plan for: drinking water, sugary food, feeder insects and a nest suited to the colony's size. Their natural association with wood doesn't mean you need to provide a wooden nest. Plan for their winter rest, and don't assume extra heating will keep them growing throughout the year.
Which would we choose first?
For a first colony, we'd often suggest black garden ants. If you'd rather watch ants collecting seeds, look at Messor barbarus. Red ants are a good option if you're confident managing moisture, while carpenter ants suit someone happy to take things slowly.
Once you've picked your species, choose a home that fits the colony you are buying. Our starter kits suggest appropriately sized colony options for each nest. For queens and young colonies, the Myrmeco nano Starter Kit is one option to explore.
