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Messor Capitatus - Harvester Ant

Messor Capitus - Beginner Species - Medium to Large in Size

 

Quite a nice find in the EU, Found throughout Southern Europe and Norther Africa they are typically all black and have great colony synergy with forraging. Queens are typically larger than Barbarus.

 

They tend to be less skittish and much more hardy to raise. This means they are quite forgiving to the mistakes of many new keepers.

 

Messors will carry the seeds on their own roads back to the colony, sometimes up to 100ft away.

 

This supports the ecosystems around them and enhanses propogation, the process causes seed dispersal and helps airate the soil within their nests. It has been rumoured that a Messor will even plant seeds outside the nest, we dont know if this is for idleness, to germinate them for the soft srout, to hide their nest or to secure future seeds. either way you will be able to draw your own conclusions when you watch them yourself.

 

Harvested seeds are eaten by the ants, using the large Majors jaws to de-shell them. They are then chewed into a protein rich food source known as "ant-bread". It is this antbread these ants get 90% of their nutrients and almost all of their water from.

 

In the wild, nests are often found amongst low lying shrubs and ground dwelling plants typically associated with Olive groves and land unhindered by humans, wherever there are plants which seed, Messors will be somewhere nearby.

 

Colony Size

Excess of 10,000 workers

Slow growth until 30 to 50 workers, colony will grow rapidly with the first Majors.

Queen Age

Up to 15 years

Temperature & Humidity

22 to 25 degrees nest | 23 to 27 outworld

50% to 70% Nest (Lower for seed store) | 30% to 50% outworld

Hibernation

Yes - November to Feb

Polymorphic (Different size casts)

Yes

Sting

No

Bite

Yes

Diet

Seeds, Nuts, Grains, Occasional Sugar, Occasional extra protein.

Nest Type

Natural, Acrylic, Sand, Earth, Glass

Size

Queen - 15mm-16mm

Worker - 3mm-14mm

Polymorphic - Yes, Majors can be almost as big as the Queen 

 

 

 

 

 

Messor Capitatus - Harvester Ant

PriceFrom £12.99
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  • It is illegal to release this colony into the wild in the UK, if you can no longer care for your colony please contact us immediately.

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