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9 of 50 states

* Shipping regulations vary by state per USDA APHIS PPQ 526 permits.

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Pogonomyrmex barbatus Red Harvester Ants

$34.99
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Red Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex barbatus is the large red harvester of the southwestern United States and Mexico, around 10 mm and quick to sting, clearing a bare disc around a nest that can run a meter across. Gordon has followed a single New Mexico population for more than three decades, and the record shows a colony living 20 to 30 years, exactly as long as the queen who founded it, and regulating its foraging by the rate at which returning foragers meet ants in the chamber inside the entrance, a valve set against the water a forager loses to dry air.

Estimated Availability
November 23, 2026
Difficulty
Beginner
Species Traits
🪹Mound-Builder🌗Diurnal🍽Granivore🍽Omnivore⚠Arid-Adapted⚠Heat-Loving👑Monogynous👑Semi-Claustral🔬Monomorphic⚡Stinging🪹Soil-Nesting🔬Large
Live organism — Covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. Someone must be available to receive the package on delivery day. Ships Mon–Wed only.
Colony Care Kit Included with every colony!
Not just a test tube. We give you a whole Colony Care Kit.

Most live-ant sellers ship their ants in a test tube wrapped in paper towels. We include everything you need to get started.

  • Small Foraging Area
  • Test Tube + TJL Sponge
  • Tube Dock
  • Seed Mix Sample
  • Liquid Feeder
  • Feeding Dish

TrapJaw Labs

Pogonomyrmex barbatus Red Harvester Ants

Red Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex barbatus is the large red harvester of the southwestern United States and Mexico, around 10 mm and quick to sting, clearing a bare disc around a nest that can run a meter across. Gordon has followed a single New Mexico population for more than three decades, and the record shows a colony living 20 to 30 years, exactly as long as the queen who founded it, and regulating its foraging by the rate at which returning foragers meet ants in the chamber inside the entrance, a valve set against the water a forager loses to dry air.

Species facts

Nesting: Mound-Builder, Soil-Nesting

Activity: Diurnal

Diet: Granivore, Omnivore

Care Needs: Arid-Adapted, Heat-Loving

Colony Type: Monogynous, Semi-Claustral

Morphology: Monomorphic, Large

Special Trait: Stinging

Difficulty: Beginner

Housing that fits this species

This species fits our The Substratum.

Where we can ship it

Approved for live delivery to Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah.

Full care guide for Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Browse the species care library, see the rest of our shop, or check what we can ship to your state.