Messor ponticus
| Latin Name: |  |
Messor ponticus |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae (Schuppenameisen) Tribe: Myrmicinae |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(1) easy to keep species |
| Distribution: |  |
south-eastern Mediterranean region |
| Habitat: |  |
Pine forests |
| Colonyform: |  |
polygyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 10-12mm Colour: black to brownish, robust thorax |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 5 - 10mm Colour: black to brownish |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 4 - 9mm Colour: black |
| Nutrition |  |
Seeds of various grasses and wild plants as well as insects, e.g. paired winged insects such as flies and mosquitoes |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 25 - 30°C Nestpart: 21 - 26°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes, from end of November until end of February at around 15°C |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in soil and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest, Digfix |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam , Digfix Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to savanah areas with grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, roots, treeneedels, stones |
| Description: |  |
Messor ponticus is a very granivorous (grain-eating) ant species from the eastern Mediterranean region. They cover a large part of their moisture requirements through the grains and the rest through insects. Honey water is only accepted when there is a lack of liquid. As Messor species tend to plunge into open water sources, these should always be covered with stones or cotton wool. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: september and April/May founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Reference |