Esthetic Ants

18/10/2026

My Camponotus renggeri colony was running out of nest space, so the workers started gathering against the wall of their outworld and basically created their own extra nest area.

That was a pretty clear sign that it was time for an upgrade.

I connected a much larger nest and added some extra heat to make the new space more attractive. Now we just have to see if the colony actually decides to move in.

This is part 1 of a small series following the upgrade of this Camponotus renggeri colony.

06/10/2026

We built a free nuptial flight map for the US. Pick a month, search a species, and tap a dot for details, so you know when to start looking for queens in your state.

Data is indicative (AntWiki, scientific papers and keeper reports), so weather and local conditions can shift flights. If something looks off for your area, let us know and we'll update it.

Interactive map of ant nuptial flights in the US. See which ant species swarm in your state each month and when to look for queen ants.

02/10/2026

13/07/2026

Learn how to make the perfect test tube setup for your queen ant in this complete ant keeping tutorial. Whether you've just caught your first Lasius niger queen or you're preparing for nuptial flight season, this guide shows you how to build the ideal founding test tube setup, avoid common beginner mistakes, and give your ant colony the best possible start.

Learn how to make the perfect test tube setup for your queen ant in...

13/06/2026

A stinging Tetraponera rufonigra colony had completely outgrown its setup, chewed through plastic, and was ready to escape.

So I had to move thousands of ants, brood, and eggs into a brand-new home before things got worse.

What do you think of this insane colony?

21/05/2026

Recently I received a massive Tetraponera rufonigra colony and they really are a pain in the a*s. They do not care for any form of anti-escape, they don't want to be picked up by tweezers and they sting like a (insert your own insult here). These ants are not something I would recommend for the faint of heart. It takes a very experienced ant keeper to keep this type of ant. Haven been stung twice I can tell you, they hurt😅

15/05/2026

We are very excited to turn these colonies into beautiful showroom colonies for everyone to see😍