Bundle Offer – Messor angularis

Bundle offer including an ant colony Messor angularis (queen + 5-10 workers), a starter set for harvester ants L Popcorn with 3x Formicarium pads and a jar of our special blanched crickets (Moist Protein). 

Only while stocks last.

Ant species Messor angularis:

Messor angularis is a distinctly granivorous (granivorous) ant species from Africa, more specifically Kenya and Tanzania. Due to its origin it is, in contrast to for example Messor barbarus, active all year round and does not need hibernation. It belongs to the so-called harvester ants and is one of the entry-level species for ant keepers due to its relatively simple demands on climate and food. With its deep black body and the strongly red colored head it is one of the most beautiful Messor species, workers even often get a mostly red colored body. It is also very exciting to observe due to the formation of minor, media as well as major workers (smaller and larger).

Messor angularis eats mainly grains in the wild and makes “ant bread” from them, but sweet fruits and dead insects are also readily accepted. Messor angularis meets most of its moisture needs from grains and the rest from insects. In the formicarium, grains can be given and additionally honey, protein food, very small insects or jellies as needed. Honey water is accepted only when there is a lack of liquid. Since messor ants tend to plunge into open water sources, these should always be covered with small stones or absorbent cotton.

Harvester ants need a slightly moist nest area for brood and a dry nest area to store their collected grains (dry to prevent mold from forming). This is best done with two separate nests, which are included in our starter set. This will last at least 1-2 years. After that, both nest and arena area should be expanded.

The optimal climatic conditions for Messor angularis are as follows:

Humidity:

Arena: 30 – 50% Nest area: 50 – 70%.

Temperature:

Arena: 25 – 30°C Nest area: 22- 28°C

The most suitable nesting material is our Digfix. It is very resistant to moisture and ensures that the view into the nest and the chambers and passages inside is not disturbed by substrate residues as with sand-clay mixtures. Due to their strong jaws, Major workers can also easily eat through Ytong over time. Therefore glass nests with Digfix insert are the best and safest way to keep Messor angularis.

Contents:

1x Messor angularis (queen + 5-10 workers)

1x blanched crickets 10g

1x Formicarium pad – 20x20cm

2x Formicarium pad – 20x6cm

1x ANTCUBE – arena 20x20x10 – flat

1x ant arena frame 20×20

1x ant arena cover 20×20

1x Fixing points for arena cover 4pcs.

2x ANTCUBE – ant farm – L – 20×20 – standing

1x ant farm cover

4x plugs 4mm

1x ANTCUBE – Terra nidum 20×20 – L – beige

1x popcorn nest 20×20 – L

1x 1m tube transparent 20/16 mm

2x ANTCUBE – Red foil 20×20 – self-adhesive

1x Substrate – Desert – 1 Kg

2x grid insert – 50mm – stainless steel

1x grid insert – 27mm – stainless steel

1x grid cap – 16mm – stainless steel

1x basin hose connector 27-14,16,20 mm – transparent

1x Feed dispenser 2ml – dosing

1x drinker 2ml – 360 degrees

1x bowl clear 1×20 – sponge

1x mini thermo hygrometer analog – display – hanging

1x Ant escape protection oil 10ml

1x tweezers spring steel – wide – soft

1x tweezers plastic transparent

1x Plastic pipette 3ml

1x Hand magnifier – 2x – 30mm

1x Food Mix Set – for grain collectors (10 pieces)

1x foam wiper 150x18x2,5mm

1x Photo back wall – desert – 20×10

Description Starter Set:

This starter set is specially designed for grain collecting ant species of the genus Messor or Pogonomyrmex. The farm with the popcorn plate is intended for the storage of grains and ant bread and should therefore be kept completely dry to prevent grains/seeds stored there by the ants from germinating or becoming moldy.

The second farm with the “Terra nidum” plate is intended as the nesting and brood area for the ant colony. This should always be kept slightly moist.

Description of the Terra nidum plate: The Terra nidum (lat. earth nest) plate made of diggable material is a perfect fit for our ANTCUBE ant farms. It can be used both dry and wet. It is also suitable for many ant species, especially those nesting in sand and in (dead) wood. It can be used instead of sand-loam mixtures or the nest inserts made of cork. The advantage of this nest is that the wetting of the plate is easier to control due to a well visible discoloration and the color of the plate offers a great contrast to the usually darker colored ant species. In addition, the inner panes of the ant farm cannot be soiled with substrate, as is the case, for example, with sand-clay mixtures, which allows a perfect view of the nest. Our nest material also has a much firmer structure, so that passages and chambers dug by ants do not collapse.

Description Popcorn nest: This popcorn nest with prefabricated corridors and chambers is perfect as a grain chamber for for example Messor ants but also other grain collecting ant species. It has a hole as nest access. The popcorn nest absorbs moisture and can expand as a result, so it should definitely be kept dry. Messor barbarus accepts our ANTCUBE Popcorn Nest very well as a grain chamber. Over time, the ants will begin to expand the popcorn nest and eat their way through the nesting material. It smells like caramelized honey and therefore has a very attractive effect.

The Popcorn Nest should only be used for ant species that require very little to no moisture in the nest area.

Important: Please moisten the desert substrate before use so that the mixture can combine and develop a firm hold in the ant farm. In addition, a dry and dusty substrate can lead to the respiratory tract of the ants being blocked and the animals suffocating in the worst case.

Recommendation: We recommend a 2 mm layer of substrate to prevent the animals from burrowing into the arena and instead use the designated farm. We also recommend lightly pricking the nesting material in the farm (sand/clay, digfix, terra nidum, etc.) at one point to make it easier for the animals to dig in.

Notes on production

The glass is cut according to DIN 1249 with a tolerance of +/- 1mm. In case of extremely small ants an additional breakout protection is essential.

Note on the farm

When attaching or detaching hoses, please note the following:

If the tubing is very difficult to fit onto the connector bushing, the bushing should be lightly rubbed with a drop of our breakout protection oil or powder. The hose should then be pushed onto the bushing by twisting or screwing movements without stressing the bushing with up and down movements. The same applies when removing the hoses from the connection socket of the farm. Please do not simply pull them off!

Note on terra nidum: The natural color shade can vary between beige / sand and light brown. The color shade has no influence on the quality.

Due to the manufacturing process, the dimensions may vary by +/- 1mm.

Note about the blanched crickets:

Our Blanched Crickets are an easy way to provide your ants with freshly preserved protein food without having to feed live insects. The included crickets (Acheta domesticus) have been gently blanched to ensure that nutritional value, flavor and aroma are preserved. In addition, the chitinous shell of the insects is softened in this way, so that it can be digested more easily. The compounds of the collagenous proteins are broken down so that the ants can utilize them better. Canned Acheta domesticus have the same nutritional value as live crickets, but are easier to digest.

The blanched crickets are not suitable for hunting ant species that require live food. (e.g., ponerines (primordial ants) such as Harpegnathos or Odontomachus).

Other advantages:

Guaranteed to be free of mites

Portionable

Sterilized and vacuumized

Without additives

Crickets from sustainable purely organic breeding, fed with organic waste

Notice:

Once opened, keeps for about four days in the refrigerator. Longer shelf life if frozen.