Harpegnathos Venator

Harpegnathos venator (primitive jumping ant)

Formicarium: naturalistic setup with foraging area. Ytong or gypsum nests also work well.

Substrate: A mix of coco fiber and clay would work great.

Size: queens-14 ish mm

Workers- 13-14 ish mm

Temperature & Humidity

Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F) — heat cable or mat can be used, but don’t overheat.

Humidity: 60–80% in the nest;outworld area can be drier.

Ventilation: Good airflow is important to prevent mold.

Diet

Protein: Feed small live insects like fruit flies, crickets, roaches They are visual hunters!

Sugars: rarely needed.

Feed every 2–3 days or up to every day if larvae are present.

Colony Structure

Unique trait: Workers (gamergates) can become reproductive meaning no true queen is actually needed.

Colonies are small, often under found to be a couple 100 individuals.

New colonies can be started from a few workers if a gamergate is present. 

Hibernation

Not strictly needed.

Notes & Tips

Escape artists: Use fluon or PTFE around the edges to prevent escapes.

Aggression: Keep only one colony per setup—can be territorial towards other species 

Observation: active hunters, so they’re fun to watch during the day.