Scientific name: Myrmica rubra
Dutch name: Red stinging ant
Distribution area: Europe
Ant color: Orange-reddish
Difficulty level: 2.5/5
Queen size: 6-7 mm
Worker size: 4-5 mm
Soldier size: /
Temperature: 20 to 25 degrees
Optimal temperature: 24-25 degrees
Nest humidity: 50 to 70%
Outside environment humidity: 30 to 50%
Hilf-dormancy: Late October-March at +/- 10 degrees
Growth rate: 3/5
Develops into number of workers: +/- 20,000 workers
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Organization: Semi-claustral
Colony formation: Polygyne (can have multiple queens per nest)
Diet: Insects such as fruit flies, redrunners, crickets, mealworms, buffalo worms, dubia cockroaches. Sugars such as beetle jelly, byFormica sunburst and nectar, honeydew, etc.
Food requirements: normal.
Number of workers per nest: 50+.
Recommended nest type: natural setup, wooden nest.
Messor capitatus is a species in the Myrmicinae subfamily. They 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 relatively easygoing and have few demands on their surroundings, making them an ideal species for patient beginners. However, it is important that this species is placed in a location with little to no vibration, as it is very sensitive to such vibrations and becomes stressed. This species also has very large soldiers, even larger than those of Messor barbarus
Difficulty level
2.5 / 5
Growth rate
3/ 5
