Messor orientalis
| Latin Name: |  |
Messor orientalis |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Pheidolini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(1) Easy to keep Specie from with higher requirements towards food and climate |
| Distribution: |  |
Central Asia, South east Europe, Middle East |
| Habitat: |  |
Sand and shrub areas |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 11 - 13mm Colour: shiny black |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 10mm Colour: darkbrown, polymorph |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass) but insects too, Honeywater, Sugarwater |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 25 - 30°C Nestpart: 21 - 30°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in soil and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Savannasareas with grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, Stones |
| Description: |  |
This specie is highly granivor ant which collect all kinds of small seeds and chew them into so- called antbread. Most of their waterrequirements are covered through seeds and insects. They accept also honeywater and sugarsolution. Messor orientalis tends to drown in open Water so it is necessary to cover waterplaces with little stones or cotton. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: autuum founding: claustral (without feeding) colonyage up to 25 years colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
