Latin Name: | Messor cf. wasmanni | |
Trivialname: | – | |
Taxonomy: | Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Pheidolini | |
Keeping Level: | (1) Species from Southern Europe with higher requirements towards food and climate | |
Distribution: | Southern Europe, Eastern Mediterranian Coast | |
Habitat: | xerothermic grassland and ruralareas | |
Colonyform: | monogyne | |
Queen: | Size: 11 – 14mm Colour: shiny black with red spots | |
Worker: | Size: 4 – 10mm Colour: head and gaster shiny black, thorax reddish | |
Soldier: | not present | |
Males: | Size: 8 – 10mm Colour: black | |
Nutrition: | Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass) but insects too | |
Airhumidity: | Arena: 30 – 50% Nestpart: 50 – 70% | |
Temperature: | Arena: 25 – 30°C Nestpart: 21 – 26°C | |
Hibernation: | yes, from end of November until end of February at 15°C | |
Nestform: | Build their nest in soil and under stones | |
Kind of Formicaria: | Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest, Digfix | |
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, stones | |
Description: | This species is a highly granivorous ant that collects all kinds of small seeds and chews them into so-called ant bread. It gets most of its water needs from seeds and insects. Honey water is accepted only when there is a lack of moisture. Messor species tend to drown in open water so it is necessary to cover waterplaces with little stones or cotton. | |
Development: | matingflight: September/ October founding: claustral (without feeding) 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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