Latin Name: | ![]() |
Messor aciculatus |
Trivialname: | ![]() |
– |
Taxonomy: | ![]() |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Pheidolini |
Keeping Level: | ![]() |
(1) Species from Asia with higher requirements to escape prevention |
Distribution: | ![]() |
China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Russia |
Habitat: | ![]() |
Sand and shrub areas, open grassland |
Colonyform: | ![]() |
polygyne |
Queen: | ![]() |
Size: 10mm Colour: shiny black |
Worker: | ![]() |
Size: 4 – 5mm Colour: shiny black |
Soldier: | ![]() |
not present |
Males: | ![]() |
Size: 4 – 10mm Colour: shiny black |
Nutrition | ![]() |
Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass) but insects, too |
Airhumidity: | ![]() |
Arena: 30 – 50% Nestpart: 50 – 70% |
Temperature: | ![]() |
Arena: 18 – 30°C Nestpart: 24 – 28°C |
Hibernation: | ![]() |
yes |
Nestform: | ![]() |
Build their nest in soil and under stones, nest depth can be up to 4m |
Kind of Formicaria: | ![]() |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest |
Formicaria size: | ![]() |
Size: M |
Substrate: | ![]() |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
Planting: | ![]() |
similar to savanah areas with grass and other plants |
Decoration: | ![]() |
Branches, roots, treeneedels, |
Description: | ![]() |
This species is a highly granivor ant which collects all kinds of small seeds and chews them into so- called antbread. Most of their water-requirements are covered through seeds and insects. Honeywater is only accepted when there is a lack of moisture. Messor aciculatus tends to drown in open water so it is necessary to cover waterplaces with little stones or cotton. |
Development: | ![]() |
matingflight: April to May founding: claustral (without feeding) colony age up to 25 years colonysize: up to 10.000 individuals |
Quantity: | ![]() |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
Weblinks: | ![]() |
– Forum |
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