The Ultimate Guide to Raising Harvester Ants

Introduction – Meet the Harvester Ant

Hi there! Meet the Harvester Ant, one of nature’s most impressive little engineers. They may look minuscule, but these tiny insects are constantly busy building tunnels, gathering food, and working together in perfectly organized colonies that stretch deep beneath the earth's surface. And now you have the incredible opportunity to witness their unique lives up close! 

At Insect Lore, we’ve been helping families, teachers, and young scientists connect with nature for more than 50 years. We believe that learning about insects should be both fun and educational. When children care for living creatures, they learn patience, responsibility, and curiosity — skills that last a lifetime.

By raising harvester ants, you get a front-row seat to one of nature’s most effective workers and the ultimate team players! You’ll learn how ants communicate, how they build their homes, and how every tiny ant has a role to play in keeping the colony healthy.

This guide will walk you through every step of the process, from setting up your ant farm to feeding, care, and troubleshooting. Whether you’re a teacher running a classroom science project or a parent starting a fun nature activity at home, this is everything you need to know to raise a thriving colony.

Ready to get started? Check out Insect Lore’s Ant Hill Kits, which include everything you need to begin your ant-venture.

What Are Harvester Ants?

Just as their name suggests, Harvester ants are a fascinating species of ant that collect and store seeds. Insect Lore ants are from the Pogonomyrmex family, a group known for their strength, teamwork, and busy nature. Your Ant Hill ants are Western Harvester Ants from the rugged deserts of the American Southwest, known for their exceptional digging skills! They live in dry, sunny areas such as deserts, plains, and grasslands. Here they dig complex and intricate underground tunnels to store seeds and protect their colonies from predators and harsh weather.

What Makes Harvester Ants Special

• Size and Visibility: They’re larger than many other ant species, making them easy to observe in your habitat.
  

• Strong Builders: Harvester ants are amazing diggers. They create long, winding tunnels that are perfect for observation. 
  

• Teamwork Experts: Ants are the ultimate team players! Watch how they all work together without slowing down or getting confused. Observe how they communicate by touching their tiny antennae together (You'll learn more about that later)! 
  

• Seed Collectors: Their healthy diet of seeds makes them easier to feed than other species that prefer a sugary diet. 
  

Children and adults of all ages will enjoy watching their harvester ants build, cooperate and explore, observing cooperation and perseverance in action. It’s a lesson in teamwork and patience — both for the ants and their caretakers!

Fun Fact: In the wild, harvester ants are so skilled at collecting and dispersing seeds that they sometimes change the local landscape by helping new plants grow. How's that for making an impact! 

Understanding the Harvester Ant Colony

To care for your ants, it helps to understand how their colony works. Even without a queen, harvester ants demonstrate an amazing ability to communicate and cooperation. Each member knows exactly what to do to keep the colony running smoothly and safely.

The Role of Worker Ants

All of the ants you’ll receive in your Insect Lore habitat are workers. Worker ants are female, and they do nearly all the tasks in a colony, such as digging tunnels, foraging for food, feeding other ants, and protecting their home.

If you watch closely, you’ll start to notice that different ants seem to “specialize.” Some prefer to dig, while others guard the nest entrance or move food to storage areas.

How Ants Communicate

Ants don’t talk or make sounds like we do. Instead, they use chemicals called pheromones to send messages. An ant might leave a scent trail that says, “Food this way!” or “Danger ahead!”

They also use their antennae to touch and “smell” one another, which is how they recognize their nestmates as well as identify "foreign" or strange ants from a different colony. In your habitat, you might see them tapping each other with their antennae — that’s how they share important information, or even just say hello. 

The Life Cycle of Harvester Ants

In nature, a colony begins with a queen laying eggs. Those eggs hatch into larvae, which grow into pupae, and finally become adult ants. Your ant farm starts with adult workers, so you’ll skip the early life stages and focus on how they build, forage, and live together in their complex tunnel community.

Why There’s No Queen in Your Habitat

Many people wonder why ant habitats don’t include a queen. Worker ants can live for months without one, and they’ll still perform all the behaviors that make them so fascinating to watch. A queen’s only job is to lay eggs, which isn’t necessary for educational habitats.

Setting Up Your Ant Habitat

Creating the right home for your ants is the first step toward raising a healthy colony. With just a little preparation, you’ll give your ants the perfect environment to tunnel, build, and explore. The below instructions are taken directly from our Ant Hill Instruction Guide.

Choosing the Right Habitat

Insect Lore's Ant Hill habitats are designed for safety, visibility, and fun. Sand Habitats offer a more natural environment similar to the ants’ desert homes. Our habitats require you to provide food and water periodically, and are perfect for children and classrooms who want the full experience of real ant behavior and care.

Preparing Your Ant Habitat

Before your ants arrive:

1. Place your habitat on a flat, stable surface.

2. Keep the habitat at room temperature, ideally between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21–24°C).
   

3. Avoid direct sunlight, heaters, or air vents that could make the environment too hot or dry.
   

Creating the Right Environment

Ants thrive in calm, quiet spaces. Vibrations, noise, and sudden light changes can stress them out. Try to place the habitat somewhere it won’t be bumped or shaken.

Pro Tip: Keep your habitat in indirect light. Too much light can dry out the sand, but complete darkness may make it hard to observe your ants. 

Introducing Your Ants to the Ant Farm

When your ants arrive, they’ll likely be active and eager to explore. Follow these steps to make their introduction smooth and safe.

When Your Ants Arrive

Your Ant Hill comes with live Harvester Ants or a voucher to redeem them later. Caring for your ants is easy and fun!

• Your ants arrive in two small tubes. Do not open them yet!

• Place the tubes in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to slow the ants down for easier transfer.

• Do NOT freeze the ant tubes!

How to Add Your Ants to Their New Home

1. Snip a small corner off the sandbag.
   
2. Measure 1/3 cup of water.
   
3. Open the Ant Hill lid, facing the flat side toward you, and locate the small
   “half funnel” hole at the top.
   
4. Pour 1-2 inches of sand into the back flat area of the Ant Hill. Don’t worry about sand falling onto the front.
5. Use the sand rod to tamp the sand into the corners, allowing more space for digging. Tap the base of the Ant Hill gently on a flat surface to help the sand settle.
6. After tamping, add 10 dropperfuls of water to the sand.
7. Repeat until the sand is flush with the top. You may have leftover sand; that’s okay. You should use the entire 1/3 cup of water to achieve a “sandcastle texture.”

While the ants cool, create a starter tunnel by inserting the sand rod into the back of the habitat about 3 inches into the sand and then pulling it out.

• After cooling in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes, the ants are ready to be transferred. Hold an ant tube upright and tap it gently.
  
• Open the habitat lid, twist and remove the cap from the first tube, and tap the ants into the Ant Hill. Repeat with the second tube and close the habitat lid.
  
• The ants may be sluggish at first but will soon explore and dig!
  
• Caution: Do not touch the ants; they can sting.

Caring for Your Busy Ants

• Food: Every 2-3 days, feed your ants one sunflower seed or a small piece of celery, apple, or carrot. Drop it into the Ant Hill and replace it after they eat it.
  
• Provide tiny portions and avoid overfeeding!
  
• Once every 2-3 days use your dropper to add 2-3 drops of water into the back of the Ant Hill and onto the sand - don’t overwater!

What to Expect in the First 24 Hours

Your ants might gather in a corner or appear to be resting at first. This is completely normal. They’re adjusting to their new environment. Within a day or two, you’ll likely notice small piles of sand forming — the beginnings of their tunnels. After a few days, the colony will settle into a rhythm of digging, organizing food, and exploring.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Keep your ants at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.
• Avoid rough handling, which can collapse the tunnels.
• Overwatering: Too much water can cause mold to form or create an unsafe environment for your ants.
• Overcrowding: 25 to 30 ants is ideal for most habitats
• Shaking the Habitat: Even light movement can disturb tunnels and stress the ants.

Helpful Tip: Ants are most active in the morning and late afternoon. Try observing them during these times for the best view of their behavior.

Feeding and Hydrating Your Ants

Feeding your ants properly keeps them healthy and active. It’s also a great opportunity to observe how they interact with food and each other.

What Harvester Ants Eat

Harvester ants primarily eat small seeds, grains, and bits of fruits or vegetables. Their natural diet makes them easy to care for.

Here are some examples of good food options:

• Small birdseed mix
  

• Crushed sunflower seeds
  

• Tiny pieces of apple or carrot
  

Feed your ants a tiny pinch every two or three days. Ants don’t need much food, and leftovers can spoil quickly.

Avoid sugary foods like honey or candy. These can mold easily and harm your colony.

Providing Water and Moisture

If you’re using a gel habitat, your ants will get moisture from the gel itself. For sand habitats, lightly moisten one corner of the sand every few days using a dropper.

Signs your ants have enough moisture:

• The sand is slightly clumped but not soggy.
  

• You see light condensation on the inside walls.

If the habitat ever feels too wet, leave the lid slightly open for an hour to let it air out.

Keeping the Ant Habitat Clean

Ants are tidy creatures by nature! Wipe the viewing panels with a soft, dry cloth to keep your view clear.

Quick Answers:

• Can I feed them sugar water? Not recommended. It encourages mold.
  

• What if mold appears? Remove the affected sand and let the habitat dry slightly before adding fresh moisture.

Observing Ant Behavior

This is where the real fun begins! Watching ants go about their daily lives is like looking into a tiny world of teamwork and problem-solving.

What to Look For

• Tunneling: Ants dig elaborate tunnels to store food and create living spaces.
  

• Food Storage: You may see them move seeds into “pantry” areas within the tunnels.
  

• Cooperation: Ants often work in pairs or groups to move heavy objects.
  

• Rest Periods: Even ants need short breaks. They’ll often rest together in quiet clusters.

Tracking Your Observations

Keeping a daily or weekly log is a great way to turn your ant farm into a science project. Record changes, such as new tunnels or feeding habits.

You can make a simple chart with columns for:

• Date
  

• What you observed
  

• What food you offered
  

• Any changes in behavior or habitat

Classroom Idea: Students can measure tunnel length with a ruler and graph their findings over time.

Fun Observation Activities

• Tunnel Mapping: Draw what the tunnels look like each week to track progress. Try and predict where they will twist and turn next! 
  

• Ant Role Watch: Assign each student an “ant behavior” to watch, such as carrying, digging, or guarding.
  

• Ant Olympics: Time how long it takes an ant to form a connected tunnel!

These activities help children develop observation skills, patience, and curiosity.

Troubleshooting Common Problems with Ant Farms

Even with the best care, small issues can come up. Here’s how to handle them calmly and safely.

The Ants Aren’t Digging

If your ants haven’t started tunneling after a few days, check for these possible causes:

• The sand may be too dry or compacted.
  

• The habitat might be too cold.
  

• The ants could still be adjusting to their new surroundings.

Try moistening the sand slightly or moving the habitat to a warmer room!

Mold or Odors

Mold is usually caused by too much moisture or leftover food. To fix it:

1. Remove the moldy section carefully with a spoon or tweezers.
   

2. Let the habitat air out for a few hours.
   

3. Reduce watering for a few days.

Escaping Ants

Always make sure the lid is tightly closed. If you need to open it for feeding or cleaning, do so carefully and only for a few seconds.

If an ant escapes, gently guide it back using a small brush or piece of paper. He needs to get back to the colony! 

Educational Ideas for Parents and Teachers

Ant farms make learning fun and memorable. They tie into many school subjects — science, math, writing, and even art.

Activities for Home

• Observation Journal: Encourage kids to write or draw what they see each day.
  

• Ant Art: Draw or paint the tunnels and label different “rooms.”
  

• Ant Story Time: Ask kids to write a short story from an ant’s point of view. What challenges or obstacles do they face during the day? How do they overcome it?

Classroom Lesson Ideas

• Science: Study ecosystems, adaptation, and animal behavior.
  

• Math: Measure tunnels or count food items carried by ants.
  

• Language Arts: Write journal entries or descriptive essays about the ants.
  

• STEM Integration: Combine engineering and biology by designing your own “ideal” ant habitat model.

Discussion Starters

• Why do ants work together instead of alone?
  

• How do ants communicate without talking?
  

• What can we learn about teamwork from an ant colony?

• What incredible things can ants accomplish using teamwork and communication?

Ethical and Responsible Ant Care

At Insect Lore, we believe it’s important to teach respect and mindfulness for living things. Our harvester ants are ethically sourced and handled with care from start to finish.

By raising ants responsibly, you’re bringing science, STEM learning and joy into your students and children's lives, teaching compassion, stewardship, and respect for nature — values that extend far beyond the ant farm. 

Wrapping Up

Raising harvester ants is more than just a science project — it’s an adventure deep into a hidden world! You’ll observe teamwork, construction, and communication on a tiny scale. With patience and curiosity, you’ll learn as much from your tiny ant friends as they do from you. Whether you’re a parent guiding your child’s first nature project or a teacher embarking on a classroom lesson, your community of ants farm will lead to new discoveries every day.

Ready to dig in? Explore Insect Lore’s Ant Farm Kits and bring a living science experience to your home or classroom.

Quick Harvester Ant FAQ

What do harvester ants eat?

They eat seeds, grains, and small bits of fruits or vegetables.

How long do they live?

Most harvester ants live for two to four months in a habitat.

Do they need a queen?

No, worker ants do just fine without a queen in educational habitats.

How often should I feed them?

Feed a tiny portion every two or three days.

Why aren’t they digging?

They may need time to adjust or a little extra moisture in the sand.

Can I release them outside?

No. Keep them in their habitat for their full lifespan.

How many ants come in a refill kit?

Each ant hill refill kit includes about 25 live ants.