Harpegnathos venator Care Guide: Keeping a Jumping Hunter
Harpegnathos venator is a jumping ant from South and Southeast Asia: a slender black hunter with orange-red jaws and legs, huge eyes and long, curved jaws. Workers leap after their prey and hunt alone, which makes them one of the most spectacular ants to watch. It is also one of the hardest species to keep. Colonies stay small, the step from egg to worker takes a very long time, and they need live insects and exactly the right warmth and moisture. This is an expert species, and even experienced keepers need some luck with them. Want to know more about their remarkable life? Read our 10 facts about Harpegnathos venator.
At a glance
Origin: South and Southeast Asia, at forest edges and in open forest
Difficulty: expert
Colony structure: one or more queens
Growth: very slow
Colony size: small
Temperature: tropical, heating required
Humidity: humid, and finding the right level is the hardest part
Winter rest: none
Diet: live, bred feeder insects
Watch out for: mites, stings and jumping workers
Appearance and size
Workers are large and slender, roughly 16 to 18 mm, with long legs, very big eyes and long, curved jaws. The queen is only a little bigger and more robust. Because the workers all look alike and hunt alone, you will mostly see single ants patrolling the outworld rather than busy trails.
Where do they live?
Harpegnathos venator lives in South and Southeast Asia, from India through Thailand and Vietnam to southern China. It lives at forest edges and in open forest, where it nests in the soil. The nest entrance often sticks up like a little chimney with a funnel on top.
Colony structure
Colonies can have one or more queens. A special trait of Harpegnathos is that some workers can mate and lay fertilised eggs themselves. These are called gamergates. In Harpegnathos venator the queens usually do most of the egg laying, and mated workers only rarely take over. Colonies stay small, so every worker counts.
Growth
Growth is very slow. The step from egg to new worker takes a long time and colonies stay small, so do not expect fast growth. Patience is part of keeping this species. We do not give timelines, because every colony develops differently.
Temperature and heating
This is a tropical species that needs warmth. Heating is required: heat one side of the setup, for example with a Heat Mat with Temperature Controller, so there is always a warm spot. Keep in mind that the setting on the heat mat is not the temperature inside the nest, so watch where the colony keeps its brood. There is no winter rest, so keep them warm all year.
Humidity
They need a warm and humid nest. Finding the perfect moisture level is one of the hardest parts of keeping this species: too dry and the brood suffers, too wet and mould and mites get a chance. Keep the nest humid, check it often and adjust in small steps. Always provide clean water.
Feeding: live and clean
Live insects: they are hunters and need live prey, such as small crickets or other bred feeder insects of a suitable size. They hardly show interest in dead food or sugar.
Clean food: only use bred insects from a clean source, never wild-caught ones.
Portions: small amounts that are hunted quickly. Remove leftovers.
Water: always provide clean water.
More about protein for ants can be found in Feeding your ants protein.
Mites
Because they need live insects, mites can easily come in with the food, and once they are in the nest they are hard to get rid of. This is one of the biggest risks with this species. Use clean, bred feeder insects only and remove leftovers quickly.
Housing
Small colony: a warm and humid test tube setup works well at the start.
Nest: they do well in a Ytong nest, such as the Small Ytong Nest - Type A, which holds moisture well. Colonies stay small, so a small nest is enough.
Larger outworld: because they jump quite high, give them a roomier outworld than usual, such as the Deluxe Medium Outworld, and make sure it is well closed.
Handle with care
Workers can sting and jump quite high. Work calmly and carefully when you open the setup, and use tweezers. Make sure lids and connections close well, and read our anti-escape guide for tips. Despite their size and sting, keepers describe them as calm and curious rather than aggressive.
Is Harpegnathos venator right for you?
Only if you already have a lot of experience and accept that success is never guaranteed. Getting the conditions just right is the key: warmth, the right humidity, clean live food and patience. If you can offer that, few ants are more fun to watch than a Harpegnathos venator stalking and jumping on its prey. Have a look at our Harpegnathos venator colonies.
Sources
AntWiki. Harpegnathos venator.
Nest architecture, worker reproduction, and polygyny in the ponerine ant Harpegnathos venator. Journal of Insect Behavior.
Nie, L. et al., 2021. Prey status affects paralysis investment in the ponerine ant Harpegnathos venator. Insects.
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