Messor bouvieri species information: 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 easy to keep and have few requirements regarding their environment, making them an ideal species for patient keepers.
Specifications
Scientific name: Messor bouvieri
Dutch name: /
Distribution area: Southern Europe, North Africa
Colour of the ant: shiny black
Difficulty level: 2.5/5
Size of the queen: 16-17 mm
Size of the worker: 3-14 mm
Size of the soldier: /
Temperature: 20 to 26 degrees
Optimal temperature: 23-25 degrees
Humidity of the nest: 50 to 70%
Humidity of the outside world: 30 to 50%
Winter rest: November-February at +- 15 degrees
Growth rate: 3/5
Growing to a number of workers: several thousand workers
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Foundation: claustral
Colony formation: monogyne (can have 1 queen per nest)
Care:
Food: Seed mix, small insects such as fruit flies, redrunners, crickets, mealworms, buffalo worms.
Food requirements: Normal.
per nest: Move them to a small nest
Recommended nest type: Test tube, AntLab Fusion Nest, 3D, acrylic, Camponico sand formicarium.
Messor bouvieri is relatively easy to care for; the most important thing is to ensure the colony always has sufficient seeds and water. You can also offer the colony an insect a few times a week. Observe their behavior carefully. If, for example, the colony doesn't accept the food, it has sufficient food available, and you can try again a few days later. It's also important that this species is kept in a location with little to no vibration, as Messor is very sensitive to vibrations and becomes stressed.
