Information type

Messor structor are also called harvester ants 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 easy-going and undemanding, making them an ideal species for patient beginners.

SpecificationsMessor
Scientific name: structor
Dutch name: Harvester ant
Distribution area: Southern Europe, Asia, North Africa
Ant color: black with a reddish tinge
Difficulty level: 1/5
Queen size: 10-11 mm
Worker size: polymorphic, 4-10 mm
Soldier size: /
Temperature: 20 to 26 degrees
Optimal temperature: 24-25 degrees
Nest humidity: 50 to 75%
Outside world humidity: 30 to 50%     
Winter dormancy: from November to February at 15 degrees
Growth rate: 2/5
Development into number of workers: +- thousands of workers
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Organization: claustral
Colony formation: polygyne (can have multiple queens per colony)

Care:

Food: seed mix, small insects such as fruit flies, redrunners, crickets, mealworms, buffalo worms.

Food requirement: normal

How many workers should go 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, ytong

Care:

Messor structor is relatively easy to care for; the most important thing is that 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 nutrients 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 it is very sensitive to vibrations and becomes stressed.