Harpegnathos venator, also known as the Jumping Ant or Professional Hunting Ant, is one of the most remarkable and visually striking species in the ant world. Native to South and Southeast Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia), it is admired for its large size, keen vision, and predatory behavior.
Workers typically measure 13–16 mm, while queens can reach up to 18 mm, making them one of the largest ants kept in captivity. Their elongated heads, large compound eyes, and sharp mandibles allow them to perform precise hunting strikes on their prey — often by leaping forward in a sudden burst of speed, earning them the nickname “Jumping Ant.”
This species is particularly fascinating because of its unique reproductive system — if the queen dies, certain workers called gamergates can take over egg-laying duties, ensuring the colony’s survival without a traditional queen.
In their natural environment, Harpegnathos venator colonies are typically found under fallen logs, in soft soil, or at the base of trees within humid tropical forests. They rely primarily on vision instead of pheromone trails to locate prey, scanning their surroundings with their large eyes before launching powerful, accurate leaps toward the target.
These ants are solitary hunters compared to many other species, making them fascinating to observe. Their behavior demonstrates a balance between precision hunting and complex social organization.
Nest Type: Use soil-based or plaster nests that maintain stable humidity. Include multiple chambers for brood development and a dry area for foraging.
Temperature: Maintain between 24–28°C (75–82°F). Avoid rapid or extreme temperature changes.
Humidity: Keep humidity around 70–80%. Sudden drops in moisture can affect larvae development.
Primary Diet: Feed live or freshly killed insects such as fruit flies, crickets, and termites. These stimulate natural hunting instincts and promote healthy brood growth.
Supplemental Nutrition: Provide diluted honey or sugar water once per week for carbohydrates.
Feeding Schedule: Feed small portions every 2–3 days. Remove uneaten prey promptly to prevent mold growth.
Reproductive Flexibility: If the queen dies, certain workers (gamergates) can become reproductively active — a unique trait among ants.
Environmental Sensitivity: This species is highly sensitive to vibration, light, and noise. Keep the colony in a quiet, stable environment away from frequent disturbance.
Acclimation: A small amount of worker loss during shipping is normal. Colonies usually stabilize within 7–10 days under consistent conditions.
Harpegnathos venator is recommended only for experienced ant keepers, due to its specialized care requirements and predatory behavior. Always follow local wildlife regulations and never release non-native species into the wild.
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Health Guarantee
We ensure all colonies are healthy with mated queens. Compensation is provided if standards aren't met.
Shipping Timeline
We generally ship within 1–3 days. Delivery may take up to 4 days during peak order periods.
Received excellent customer service after our queen passed away. Now we have a good, strong colony. We're super happy with the replacement!
Thank you for giving us another chance!
I bought 2 queens with 20-50 workers. All the workers arrived dead, one queen was dead too. They came with no brood. Hoping I can raise a colony from the single surviving queen.
We're sorry to hear this. Please contact our support.
After a week of waiting, I was surprised that only a relatively small amount of workers perished during transit. The queen seems a bit stressed but hopefully she'll start brooding again soon.
Ordered 2 queens and 10 workers, but received only 2 queens and 8 workers. Only 2 workers died during transport despite the heat. They're still shy. Hoping they'll start brooding soon
Sorry about that! This species of ant tends to be quite skittish because they have relatively good eyesight.
The ants arrived safely and quickly. The count was mostly accurate, though we had two casualties during transport. Otherwise, I'm completely satisfied!
