Keeping Ants in Europe: Native Species and Practical Tips
Keeping ants in Europe: which species are native, why a winter rest comes naturally, what to check on regulations and how to start well.
Learn
Ant Keeping Guide
Everything a new or experienced ant keeper needs to know, from choosing a species to caring for a growing colony.
Each topic below leads to the most relevant species information and guides.
Topics
Ant Care
Starting out, queens and feeding.
Read ant care articles →
Ant Husbandry
Nests, temperature, humidity, winter rest and colony growth.
Read husbandry articles →
Buying Guides
Choosing a species and a colony, orders and shipping.
Read buying guides →
Species Guides
Care guides for individual species and groups of ants.
Read species guides →
European Ant Keeping
Native species, climate and practical tips for Europe.
Read about European ants →
Advanced Ant Keeping
Demanding species and the next step after a first colony.
Read advanced guides →
How to Start a Colony
A step-by-step guide to your first colony.
Start here →
Common Problems
Recognising and solving common issues.
Read care questions
Ant Atlas
Species profiles with origin, difficulty and care.
Explore the Ant Atlas →
Latest articles
Recent writing from the ANTELYX blog.
Messor structor vs Messor barbarus: Which European Harvester Ant?
Messor structor and Messor barbarus compared: queens, colony size, worker size, temperature, winter rest and which harvester ant suits you.
Harvester Ant Care: Keeping Messor Colonies
Harvester ant care for beginners: seeds, nest setup with a dry seed store, temperature, winter rest and what to expect from Messor colonies.
Ready to choose a species?
Use what you have learned to explore the Ant Atlas, or try the Ant Finder for suggestions.