Black Garden Ant - Lasius Niger Live Queen Ants
Lasius niger, the black garden ant, is the best ant species for beginners in the UK.
Which colony size should I choose?
Queen and eggs only: watch the queen raise her very first workers. Best for patient keepers.
Queen and 1–5 or 5–10 workers: the colony has started and stays in its test tube until it has more than 10 workers.
Queen and 10–30 workers: ready for an ant farm after the first settling days. Best for families and classrooms.
What arrives?
Your queen, with her eggs or workers, in a 16mm test tube with its own water supply. We ship across mainland UK with Royal Mail, with our live arrival guarantee.
When your ants arrive
Leave the parcel closed for 5 hours at room temperature.
Check the queen. If her legs or antennae move, she is fine.
Leave the test tube in its tin foil for 4–5 days in a quiet spot, with no feeding.
What happens next depends on the colony size you bought:
Queen alone, queen and eggs, or queen and up to 10 workers: keep her in the test tube, wrapped in its tin foil. After the first 2 weeks, feed her once a week inside the tube: a drop of protein jelly - half a grain of rice- on a tiny piece of tin foil.
Queen and 10–15 workers or more: after 4–5 days, connect the test tube to the nest of a proper ant farm, with the tin foil still on. 👉 Watch our ant farm setup video.
Important note: if you bought a cheap ant farm like Uncle Milton or similar, your ants will probably not move out of the test tube at all.
Care in an ant farm
Food: twice a week, protein jelly one day and organic ant honey or ant nectar the other, no bigger than a grain of rice, in the outworld only. Remove leftovers after 2 days. 👉 Watch our feeding video.
Water: mineral, distilled or purified only.
Conditions: nest at 20–25°C and 75–85% humidity, in daylight but never direct sunlight.
Placement: away from windows, radiators, etc.
Winter: a winter rest is optional. Never put ants in a fridge.
Need an ant farm?
👉 Buying your ants here? Pair them with the A7 PLUS Ant Farm Kit, with a built-in temperature and humidity meter.
👉 Want everything in one box? The Lucas Ant Farm Starter Kit includes the A7 PLUS, a Lasius niger colony and ant food.
👉 Prefer an all-in-one nest and feeding area? Try the Claire Complete Ant Farm Starter Kit.
FAQs
Is Lasius niger good for beginners?
Yes. It is the best beginner ant species in the UK: native, no sting, no heating needed and very forgiving.
Are Lasius niger safe for children?
Yes. They cannot sting, and their bite is too weak to feel. An adult should set up the ant farm and help with feeding.
When can I move my colony into an ant farm?
When the queen has more than 10 workers.
What do Lasius niger eat?
Protein jelly and ant honey or nectar, twice a week. 👉 What do UK ants eat?
Do Lasius niger need to hibernate?
No, it is optional.
Why won't my ants move into the nest?
Usually the nest is too dry or too cold. Keep the test tube in tin foil for 14 days, then slide the foil back 1mm a day. Moving in can take from a few days to six months.
My queen is not moving. Is she alive?
If her legs or antennae move, she is fine. If she is on her back and not moving the next day, contact us under our live arrival guarantee.
Do you deliver live ants across the UK?
Yes. We ship across mainland UK with Royal Mail, with our live arrival guarantee.
👉 Read our full Lasius niger care guide and 5 Reasons Lasius Niger Ants Are Perfect for Beginners.
👉 Keeping this species with children or a class? Download our free ant farm science resources for schools and parents.
👉 Read this guide before you spend time and money on the wrong setup, and avoid the disappointment of a child looking at an empty ant farm: Ant Farm Kits: Everything You Need to Know Before Making a Purchase
