Pogonomyrmex badius (Florida Harvester Ant) — Sold Out for the 2026 Season

Sold out for the 2026 season. Our badius queens are wild-caught seasonally — when the season's catch is gone, it's gone. New queens return summer 2027. Want first pick? Email us to join the waitlist →

Pogonomyrmex badius — the Florida Harvester Ant, the only Pogonomyrmex native to the eastern United States and one of the most striking harvesters in the hobby. Large, handsome, rusty-red seed-harvesters that build characterful colonies.

• You'll receive: a fresh-caught, fully-claustral queen with brood.
• Founding: Fully claustral — she raises her first workers sealed away, no feeding needed.
• Diet: Granivore — a seed mix is the staple, plus insect protein for brood.
• Range: Sandy soils of the southeastern U.S.
• Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate — hardy and rewarding.
• Heads up: A true harvester with a potent sting — handle with care.

New to harvesters? Read our Pogonomyrmex badius care guide →

From their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.

Native range (U.S.): Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina.