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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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.
PopularBlack 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.
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.
PopularSteppe Harvester Ant
Messor structor
A seed-harvesting ant from the European steppes with big-headed major workers that grind grain. Famous for making 'ant bread' from chewed seeds and saliva.
Black Carpenter Ant
Camponotus parius
Large, easy to observe, slow-growing but extremely hardy. The most forgiving first species.
Acrobat Ant
Crematogaster coriaria
Famous for flipping its heart-shaped gaster overhead like an acrobat when startled, this species is beginner-to-intermediate friendly and grows quickly — a great pick for a first arboreal ant.
Butteli White-footed Ant
Technomyrmex butteli
A small, glossy black ant that moves quickly and stays highly alert, living in large multi-queen colonies. A great beginner species for studying polygynous ant societies.
Nicobar Carpenter Ant
Camponotus nicobarensis
A red-orange and black carpenter ant that grows fast and stays fairly docile. Popular with beginners for its hardiness and easy adaptability, and a top seller at ant shops worldwide.
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.
Red Ox Spiny Ant
Polyrhachis abdominalis
A spiny ant from Borneo's rainforests with a shiny, gold-tinted black body and sharp thoracic spines. Easy to keep, no sting, great for spiny-ant beginners.
Fire Ox Spiny Ant
Polyrhachis bicolor
A two-toned spiny ant from Borneo, dark body contrasting with reddish-brown legs and antennae. An easy-going spiny ant well-suited for beginners.
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This page is husbandry information only — live ants aren't sold on the site, for the animals' safety in transit.