Information type
Messor barbarus are also called the harvester ant, because they are known to accept various types of seeds and grind them into a paste which they then feed to the larvae and the queen. They are fairly easy-going and undemanding to their conditions, making them an ideal strain for patient beginners.
Specifications :
Scientific name: Messor barbarus
Dutch name: Harvester Ant
Distribution area: Mediterranean region, mainly Southern Europe
Color of the ant: black with a reddish head, with redhead a bright red head with a red glow on the gaster.
Difficulty: 1/5
Queen size: 14-16 mm
Worker size: 3-8 mm
Soldier size: 8-15 mm
Temperature: 20 to 29 degrees
Optimal temperature: 26-28 degrees
nest humidity: 50 to 75%
humidity outside world: 30 to 50%
Winter rest: from November to February at 15 degrees
Growth rate: 2/5
Growing to the number of workers: +- 10,000
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Foundation: claustral
Colony formation: monogynous (1 queen per colony)
Care:
Nutrition: seed mix, small insects such as fruit flies, redrunners, crickets, mealworms, buffalo worms.
Food needs: normal
From how many workers to a nest: from 30 workers the colony can be moved to a small nest.
Recommended nest type: test tube, AntLab Fusion Nest, 3d, acrylic.
Messor barbarus is fairly easy to care for, the most important thing is that the colony always has enough seeds and water. In addition, you can offer the colony an insect a few times a week, then watch its behavior carefully. For example, if the colony does not accept the food, the colony has sufficient food available and you can try again a few days later. It is also important that this species is placed in a place where there are little to no vibrations, as this species is very sensitive to this and this causes stress.
Difficulty
1.5 / 5
Growth rate
2 / 5
