Species & care sheets
Explore Ant Species
Discover and explore ant species from the Antverse — by name, genus, habit or how hard they are to keep.
Popular searches:CamponotusPolyrhachisMeranoplusCrematogaster
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50 species
PopularGuinea Ant
Tetramorium bicarinatum
One of the easiest ants to keep: a small reddish-brown ant that grows fast, is very hardy, and lives in multi-queen colonies. A top pick for anyone keeping ants for the first time.
PopularMonster Head Carpenter Ant
Camponotus auriventris
Nicknamed the "Monster Head" carpenter ant abroad for its oversized soldier heads, which defend the nest with striking efficiency.
PopularBlack Harvester Ant
Messor barbarus
Often called the 'perfect pet ant,' this seed-harvesting species from Europe and North Africa is tough, low-maintenance, and shows off a striking range of worker sizes in one colony.
PopularAsh-Red Carpenter Ant
Camponotus rufoglaucus
A slender carpenter ant dusted in ash-grey hairs, the Ash-Red Carpenter Ant is easy to keep and grows fast, making it a great pick for anyone starting out with Camponotus.
PopularBlack Tyrant Ant
Iridomyrmex anceps
A small, fast-moving black ant that builds colonies quickly, the Black Tyrant Ant is easy to keep but demands an escape-proof setup for its unusually agile workers.
PopularBicolored Shield Ant
Meranoplus bicolor
The Bicolored Shield Ant (Meranoplus bicolor), or "มดโล่บ้าน" in Thai, is instantly recognizable for the hard, shield-like plate covering its entire thorax like a suit of armor. A shy, slow-moving, docile species found across much of Asia, it's an easy-care ant for beginners that tolerates a wide diet and simple captive setups.
PopularRed-Headed Giant Carpenter Ant
Camponotus singularis
A large carpenter ant with a striking bright red head against a dark body, admired by keepers worldwide for its size and bold, ever-alert temperament.
Black Garden Ant
Lasius niger
One of the most common ants in the world and the classic starter species for new ant keepers. Extremely hardy and tolerant of imperfect conditions.
PopularMountain Trap-Jaw Ant
Odontomachus monticola
A matte-black trap-jaw ant from Asia's mountains with one of the fastest strikes in the animal kingdom, used both to hunt and to catapult itself away from danger. For expert keepers only.
Black Crazy Ant
Paratrechina longicornis
Small, long-legged, and always on the move, the Black Crazy Ant is one of the easiest species anyone can keep — a perfect first colony for total beginners.
Smooth-bellied Shield Ant
Meranoplus laeviventris
A small shield ant with a black head and gaster and a reddish-brown thorax. Found across Southeast Asia in semi-dry to wet forests. Moderate difficulty to keep.
Southern Shield Ant
Meranoplus mucronatus
A shield ant with a black head and gaster contrasting a red-brown thorax. Moves slowly, relying on chemical defenses. Easy to keep, well suited to planted tropical setups.
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This page is husbandry information only — live ants aren't sold on the site, for the animals' safety in transit.