Contents starter set messor barabarus:
– Messor barbarus ant colony
A queen with a number of workers.
– Cotton wool
To prepare a new test tube, for example, also useful to use a small piece for offering liquids (no risk of drowning)
Anti -escape kit + brush.
A specially developed preventative to keep ants out in the open. Shake well before use!
– Bag of sand 100 grams
To create a thin layer of ground cover for the outside world.
– Outside world
Outside world for the ants where they get food and take away waste.
– 5 x test tubes 16 x 150 mm
Extra test tubes, for expansion, and / or replacement if the current one is contaminated or the water reservoir is empty.
– Seed mix 13 grams
A specially composed seed mix for starting ant colonies.
Baby dubias
are a very good source of protein for ants and other insectivores. They can be stored in the freezer.
– Test tube connector
To reduce the opening of the test tube, to be able to connect to a nest, or to be able to offer a second test tube.
– Tweezers
Tweezers for preparing a test tube of ants, for example, or for cleaning up waste from the outside world.
- Manual
Information type
Messor barbarus is one of the most well-known ant species in the ant world. 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 easy-going and undemanding, making them an ideal species for patient beginners.
Specifications :
Scientific name: Messor Barbarus
Dutch name: Harvester ant
Distribution area: Mediterranean sea area, mainly Southern Europe
Difficulty level: 1.5/5
Size of queen: 14-16mm
Size of worker: 3-8 mm
Size of soldiers: 8-15 mm
Maximum age of queen: 20 years
Winter rest: November to March at 15 degrees
Growth rate: 2/5
Grow to number of workers: 10,000
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Foundation: Claustral
Colony formation: Monogyne
Care:
Food: seed mix, small insects such as fruit flies, redrunners, crickets, mealworms, buffalo worms, and morio worms.
per nest: the colony can be moved to a small nest.
Recommended nest type: test tube, mesh nest, QA's Ytong nest, 3D, acrylic.
Messor barbarus 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.
