Kale^^: Re: Messor barbarus (15. Sep 2008 18:41)

I bought one queen in april and she made the first workerk the 27 of may.The colony is growing up very fast, now are about 100 workers with 3 majors that are very big and about 10 majors not so big as the other but more than workers,
I keep them in a y-tong nest dry and twice a week I put some water in three holes for the humidity and every day I give them one or two insects and now they eat even the chiken. That sounds great! My colony has atleast 5 majors, they are all the same like you described (not biggest but more than normal worker). Try to get some pictures for us.

Messorus: Re: Messor barbarus (16. Sep 2008 15:03)

Hey guy, I think that you have just medias.. First major appears at population bigger than 60, the smaller majors which Alby have of 10 are medias... I don´t know, but I have population 80 or 70 now and there bored 3 submajors, the biggest major caste!

Alby: Re: Messor barbarus (22. Sep 2008 20:44)

I've just take this pictures, there are two principal groups and you can see the majors.I've 5 majors, one is hide by the flash in the photo where's the queen and 7 or 8 sub majors the other one are smaller.My colony is not so big.

gabranth: Re: Messor barbarus (24. Sep 2008 15:48)

i like these ants they started dyeing at first 11 ants to just 6 but now 2 hatched and the larva are starting to turn into pupae. ive been feeding them on fruit flies (the large ones) and cracking open Platahirse seeds and giving them the inners to make ant bread

JimmyVe: Re: Messor barbarus (25. Sep 2008 14:38)

Nice, i hope they keep on growing so you will have a nice (big) colony soon. ;)

Kale^^: Re: Messor barbarus (25. Okt 2008 21:32)

Oh my god. These ants are just thriving! They now have a bigger arena (20x30x40cm) and they seem to like it. They have lots of ants (10+) searching all around the "map" . There are about 70-100 ants and many mighty majors!

JimmyVe: Re: Messor barbarus (26. Okt 2008 14:37)

Very nice, maybe you could consider making a nice nest for them. So they can move in there after hibernation. ;) They will grow very hard next year.

Kale^^: Re: Messor barbarus (29. Okt 2008 17:03)

Yeah :P Probably a y-tong one i will.

akell: Re: Messor barbarus (26. Jan 2009 19:41)

Anyone ever try culling a colony to keep the size down. Please do not jump all over me , I am just curious!

JimmyVe: Re: Messor barbarus (27. Jan 2009 22:40)

Culling ? What do you mean by that ?