Post by Myrm on Nov 6, 2011 10:28:29 GMT 1
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| [bg=fbd9bd] Taxonomy: Myrmicinae Colony type: monogyne Color: black, sometimes red brown heads Size: Queen 14 - 16 mm / Workers 3 - 14 mm Distribution: Central Europe Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too Temperature: 25 - 30 �C Hibernation: Yes (slight) Air humidity: Dry climate Nest building: Soil nests, loam, pebbles (does great in Ytong nests) Planting: nothing specific Class: easy to keep |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] A grain harvesting and grain-eating ant species that are particularly found around the Mediterranean. This ant is further characterized by a lack of effective units of minor, major media and, instead presenting almost all sizes in a continuous spectrum. The size ranges from 3-4 mm to 14 mm for most majors. There is a clear spectrometry, with majors develop large heads filled with strong jaw muscles, their heads are larger than those of the queen. Messor barbarus are very populous monogyne colonies (Single queen). Nests are dug very deep and dry room used for storing grains. Around the nests can be large dumps of husks and shells of the grains found. They are fairly easy to culture and they are certainly one of the easiest species to feed. They are one of the few ants whose workers can feed solid foods because the ants are able to digest grains They work together in groups, where they continue to chew the grain so that a dough is formed from which they absorb nutrients by enzymes that are added to the dough. The size difference in the workers and the huge, beautifully red colored heads of the majors contribute to the beauty of the species. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] The swarm time is in autumn, following the queens isolate herself, but the egg laying starts after the winter. The French manual gives you the advice to feed the queen a few grains, but this is probably completely useless: it has no use for a weaker queens wanting to start a colony, and furthermore, the queen of nature does not eat seeds after the nuptial flight. Place the queen during winter rest in a test tube with a water reserve at a temperature of 12-15 � C and try not to bother her. After the winter you can relocate the queen to a warmer environment around 25-30 � C. It is best not to disturb the nest during this early raising of the first generation of workers because this species is highly vulnerable to stress. Frequent disturbing could lead to the queen eating the brood. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the colony to form its foundation. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] Create a little outside world for the colony so that you have an easy place to leave them food (mostly seeds but they also take insects). Best is to give them smaller seeds, look for example at those small bird seeds that can be bought at most pet stores. They love the seeds of dandelions and these can be found in most gardens during spring. Just collect as much as you can because you can store them dry for a very long time. During the first stages of the colony feeding them insects could give a boost as it should require less energy to absorb nutrients from insects then from the chewing of seeds. Though it's possible to feed them purely seeds. After a while you'll see bigger cocoons and those will result in your first majors. It is advisable to protect the colony from coming into contact with 'open' fluids. They are known to drown in a single drop, so even moist collecting on your glass could result in death ants. Make sure they have plenty of water but always use soaked cotton wool. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] These ants are quite capable of digging in Ytong. It is advised to make a foundation of cement and place the Ytong in the cement inside the terrarium. However when all requirements are adequate the species should find no need to start digging. If not then the construction of a thicker walls is just a temporary measure, ie the difference between a wall that requires one day after being pierced or 5 days. The nest must provide sufficiently dry places for the storage of grain. For the larvae and eggs sufficient moisture is needed, pupae can be kept drier and warmer, even hotter than the workers who nurse them. They will often "decorating" windows and rooms with white streaks of faeces. From personal experience I can say that even keeping the nest fully dry works just fine, keeping the nest moist could result in the seeds to germinate. The rooms should be made large enough to allow sufficient space for storage of grains and so the queen and the majors are able to move through the nest. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] Specific to the Messor barbarus behavior, the grain is processed as described above. You can give a mixture of small seeds, available commercially as a seed for canaries, or seeds of weeds. You could also offer the following seeds: - Dandelion (a must!) - Cooked rice - Oats - Wheat - Barley - Sesame - Papaver (?) Watch out with sunflower seeds, these might be too big. Still they also "need"(depends on who you ask) insects that are a large part of the diet. I have seen colonies up to 600 ants that lived purely on seeds. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] This species is very alert for vibrations and disturbances. Possibly this has to do with the very large storage of seeds that can be found in the nests. This behaviour is present in large colonies, but the fear of colony being under attack will result into more aggression, you'll see them storm out of the nest to find the intruders. Fortunately, these ants are not with functional angels, but majors can bit hard with their jaws. Of course this is no real dangers to humans, but not a pleasant experience. |
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| [bg=fbd9bd] This species can survive without hibernation, but in December you can lower the temperature to around 10-15 �C. According to some, the hibernation of the queen is absolutely necessary for survival, but there are those who maintain huge colonies without hibernation. |
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