Description

Four small colonies of our small native Canberra-region ants, chosen from whatever small species we have in good condition at the time, for example Iridomyrmex bicknelli. It suits keepers who are happy to let us choose and who enjoy working out what they have. The species varies between orders, so this is not the listing for you if you want a particular ant.

• Species: Various small native species (varies by order)
• Common name: Assorted small native ants
• Difficulty: Intermediate (small workers escape easily)
• Diet: Usually sugars (honey or sugar water) plus very small insects
• Size: Small; workers are usually a few millimetres long
• Temperament: Calm; none of the species we include sting or are dangerous
• Colony growth: Varies by species
• Housing: Test tube, then a small nest with a tightly sealed outworld

Key points

• Which species? Typical examples are small dome ants such as Iridomyrmex bicknelli. Ask us which species are available before you order. Small ants can be hard to identify without a microscope, so a name may be provisional.
• Founding and polymorphism: These vary by species, so ask us which species you have before you plan housing and feeding.
• Diet: Offer a small amount of honey or sugar water and tiny pieces of protein, such as a crushed fruit fly. Tiny workers can drown in large drops, so keep portions small.
• Habitat: Mostly ground-nesting species from gardens and bushland in our region.
• Temperature and humidity: Aim for normal room temperature and offer a gradient: a lightly damp end of the nest and a drier outworld, so the ants can choose. Adjust once you know the species.
• Escape risk: Higher than for large sugar ants. Small workers fit through gaps that a big ant cannot, so use a tight-fitting lid, small ventilation holes and a barrier.
• Sting or bite: We only include species that do not sting and are not dangerous: no bull ants, jack jumpers or green-head ants. As with any ant, keep the nest secure and do not handle them.
• Interesting observation: Many small native ants tend sap-sucking insects for their sugary honeydew. Canberra naturalists have photographed Notoncus ants doing exactly that with scale insects at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (NatureMapr), and a colony in a formicarium lets you watch behaviour like this up close.

What you get

Four small colonies, each a queen with typically around 5 workers and brood. The species is our choice and varies between orders; numbers and the amount of brood vary with the season and what we have available.

Shipping and the law

We ship within Australia only. Because the species varies, we do not send this listing to Western Australia or Tasmania. Western Australia prohibits entry of organisms that are not on its permitted list, and Tasmania allows only three ants to be imported without restriction (Camponotus consobrinus, Camponotus claripes and Colobopsis macrocephala), so other species need a Tasmanian import permit. If you hold the relevant clearance, contact us first. Please check your own state or territory’s rules before you order. Our guide has the details: Is it legal to keep ants in Australia?

Care guides

• Test tube setup for a founding ant queen
• What to feed pet ants in Australia
• Best formicarium for beginners

Photo credits: Iridomyrmex bicknelli by Nigel Main, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.