★★☆☆☆ Difficulty Level: Beginner
The Meat Ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus) is one of Australia's most iconic and widespread ant species. Recognised by its iridescent blue-purple sheen and fast-moving workers, this species forms large, highly active colonies that are fascinating to observe. Meat ants are excellent scavengers and fearless foragers, making them one of the most entertaining species to keep.
An excellent species for beginners and experienced keepers alike. They are hardy, adapt well to captivity, and grow quickly when provided with plenty of food and warmth.
Colony Founding Type: Claustral
Temperature: 24–30°C
Humidity: Low to Moderate (30–50% in the outworld with access to a humid nesting area)
Housing: Test tube until approximately 50–100 workers, then transfer to a spacious formicarium.
Substrate: Sand, soil, or naturalistic setups.
Diet: Sugars (sugar water or honey water) and protein sources such as mealworms, crickets, roaches, flies, and other feeder insects.
Colony Growth: Fast
Worker Size: 5–8 mm
Queen Size: 12–15 mm
Handling: Very active and defensive. They do not possess a sting but can bite and spray formic acid when disturbed.
Ideal For: Beginners wanting a hardy, fast-growing, and highly active Australian native species.
✔️ All ants sold include brood, guaranteeing a fertile queen.
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.
★★☆☆☆ Difficulty Level: Beginner
The Meat Ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus) is one of Australia's most iconic and widespread ant species. Recognised by its iridescent blue-purple sheen and fast-moving workers, this species forms large, highly active colonies that are fascinating to observe. Meat ants are excellent scavengers and fearless foragers, making them one of the most entertaining species to keep.
An excellent species for beginners and experienced keepers alike. They are hardy, adapt well to captivity, and grow quickly when provided with plenty of food and warmth.
Colony Founding Type: Claustral
Temperature: 24–30°C
Humidity: Low to Moderate (30–50% in the outworld with access to a humid nesting area)
Housing: Test tube until approximately 50–100 workers, then transfer to a spacious formicarium.
Substrate: Sand, soil, or naturalistic setups.
Diet: Sugars (sugar water or honey water) and protein sources such as mealworms, crickets, roaches, flies, and other feeder insects.
Colony Growth: Fast
Worker Size: 5–8 mm
Queen Size: 12–15 mm
Handling: Very active and defensive. They do not possess a sting but can bite and spray formic acid when disturbed.
Ideal For: Beginners wanting a hardy, fast-growing, and highly active Australian native species.
✔️ All ants sold include brood, guaranteeing a fertile queen.
Royal Ants is committed to providing healthy, high-quality ant colonies and queens to hobbyists and collectors. All queens are carefully inspected and shipped in optimal condition to ensure their wellbeing during transit. We guarantee that every queen is alive and in excellent health at the time of dispatch. In the unlikely event a queen arrives deceased, a refund will be issued upon receipt of clear photographic evidence on the day of delivery.