Bundle Offer - Messor arenarius

Bundle offer including a Messor arenarius ant colony (queen + 1-4 workers + brood), a starter set for harvester ants L Popcorn with 3x formicarium pads and a jar of our special blanched crickets (moist protein).  

Only while stocks last.

Everything you need to successfully keep Messor arenarius

This bundle contains everything you need to successfully keep a colony of Messor arenarius for the first few months. It can be expanded flexibly and is ideal for getting started with ant keeping.

The ant species: Messor arenarius

Messor arenarius, also known as the “dune harvester ant”, is a very large, granivorous ant species compared to other Messor species and is mainly found in dry and warm regions of North Africa. Their major workers can reach an astonishing size of 18mm. It is known for its adaptability to dry habitats and belongs to the so-called harvester ants, which are known for their interesting way of life and impressive nest structures.

Visually, Messor arenarius stands out with its shiny black body and powerfully built major worker ants, which are particularly impressive. Due to its robust nature and simple keeping requirements, it is an ideal species for beginners, but due to its impressive size is also interesting for advanced ant keepers.

Food for Messor arenarius

Messor arenarius feeds mainly on grains, which it uses to make so-called “ant bread”. In addition, the colony also accepts sweet fruits, small insects and protein food. The majority of their moisture requirements are covered by grains, while the rest is covered by insects and any liquids offered, such as honey water.

The following feed should be provided in the formicarium:

Grain mixtures

Small insects (e.g. fruit flies)

Always provide fresh water

Honey water if required (note: always cover open liquids to prevent the ants from falling in).

The right formicarium for Messor arenarius

Like all harvester ants, Messor arenarius also needs a nest that offers both dry and slightly damp areas. The moist area is for brood care, while the dry part is ideal for storing grains to prevent mold growth. Our starter set therefore contains two ant farms (nests), which are sufficient for the first 1-2 years. After that, the formicarium should be extended to create space for the colony to grow.

The optimum climate conditions for Messor arenarius:

Humidity:

Arena: 30-50 %

Nest area: 50-70 %

Temperature:

Arena: 25-30 °C

Nest area: 22-28 °C

Nesting material for Messor arenarius

Digfix is particularly suitable for keeping Messor arenarius. It is resistant to moisture and allows a clear view of the nest structures without any substrate residue impairing the view, as is the case with sand/clay mixtures.

As Major workers can also nibble on harder materials such as Ytong over time, we recommend glass nests with a Digfix insert. This combination not only offers longevity, but also optimum conditions for observing and caring for the colony.

With this setup, you create an ideal basis for keeping Messor arenarius and can observe and care for these fascinating ants for many years to come.

Contents:

1x Messor arenarius (queen + 1-4 workers + brood)

1x blanched cricket 10g

1x grain food minor 100g

1x formicarium pad - 20x20cm

2x formicarium pad - 20x6cm

1x ANTCUBE - arena 20x20x10 - flat

1x ant arena frame 20x20

1x ant arena cover 20x20

1x fixing points for arena cover 4pcs.

2x ANTCUBE - Ant farm - L - 20x20 - upright

2x ANTCUBE - Digfix Terra nidum 20x20 - L - beige

1x Popcorn Nest 20x20 - L

1x 1m tube transparent 20/16 mm

2x ANTCUBE - Red foil 20x20 - filter

2x adhesive clips - transparent 2 pcs.

1x substrate - desert - 1 kg

2x grid insert - 50mm - stainless steel

1x grid insert - 27mm - stainless steel

1x grid cap - 16mm - stainless steel

1x tank hose connector 27-14,16,20 mm - transparent

1x feed dispenser 2ml - dosable

1x drinking trough clear 20ml - sponge

1x bowl clear 1x20 - sponge

1x Mini thermo-hygrometer analog - display - hanging

1x Ant escape protection oil 10ml

1x Tweezers spring steel - wide - soft

1x Tweezers plastic transparent

1x plastic pipette 3ml

1x hand magnifier - 2x - 30mm

1x foam wiper 150x18x2,5mm

1x photo back - desert - 20x10

Description Starter Set:

This starter set is especially suitable for grain-collecting ant species of the genus Messor or Pogonomyrmex. The farm with the popcorn plate is intended for storing the seeds and ant bread and should therefore remain completely dry to prevent the seeds/grains stored there by the ants from germinating or becoming moldy.

The second farm with the "Terra nidum" plate is intended as a nesting and breeding area for the ant colony. This should always be kept slightly moist.

To give you more flexibility when setting up your formicarium we have included a second “Terra nidum” plate that you can use instead of the popcorn nest. 

Description of the Terra nidum plate: The Terra nidum (Latin for earth nest) plate made of diggable material is a perfect fit for our ANTCUBE ant farms. It can be used both dry and wet. It is also suitable for many ant species, especially for species that nest in sand and (dead) wood. It can be used instead of sand/clay mixtures or cork nest inserts. The advantage of this nest is that the moistening of the plate is easier to control due to a clearly visible discoloration and the coloring of the plate offers a super contrast to the usually darker ant species. In addition, the inner panes of the ant farm cannot be soiled with substrate, as is the case with sand/clay mixtures, for example, which allows a perfect view of the nest. Our nesting material also has a much firmer structure so that tunnels and chambers dug by ants do not collapse.

Description of popcorn nest: This popcorn nest with prefabricated passages and chambers is perfectly suited as a granary for Messor ants, for example, but also for other grain-collecting ant species. It has a hole for access to the nest. The popcorn nest absorbs moisture and can expand as a result, so it should always be kept dry. Messor barbarus accepts our ANTCUBE popcorn nest very well as a granary. Over time, the ants begin to expand the popcorn nest and eat their way through the nesting material. It smells of caramelized honey and is therefore very attractive.

The popcorn nest should only be used for ant species that require very little to no moisture in the nest area.

Important: Please moisten the desert substrate before use so that the mixture can bond and develop a firm hold in the ant farm. In addition, a dry and dusty substrate can lead to the ants' airways being blocked and, in the worst case, the animals suffocating.

Recommendation: We recommend a substrate layer of 2 mm in height so that the animals cannot burrow into the arena and instead use the farm provided for this purpose. We also recommend that the nesting material in the farm (sand/clay, Digfix, Terra nidum, etc.) is slightly pricked in one place to make it easier for the animals to dig.

Notes on production

The glass is cut to size according to DIN 1249 with a tolerance of +/- 1mm. Additional escape protection is essential for extremely small ant species.

Notes on the farm

Please note the following when attaching or removing hoses:

If the tube is very difficult to fit onto the connection socket, the socket should be lightly rubbed with a drop of our break-out protection oil or powder. The hose should then be pushed onto the socket using twisting or screwing movements without straining the socket with up and down movements. The same applies when removing the hoses from the farm connection socket. Please do not simply pull it off!

Note on the Terra nidum: The natural color can vary between beige / sand-colored and light brown. The color has no influence on the quality.

Due to the production process, the dimensions may vary by +/- 1 mm

Note on the blanched crickets:

Our blanched crickets are an easy way to provide your ants with freshly preserved protein food without having to feed live insects. The contained crickets (Acheta domesticus) have been gently blanched to ensure that nutritional values, taste and aroma are retained. In addition, the chitinous shell of the insects is softened in this way so that it can be digested more easily. The bonds of the collagen proteins are broken down so that the ants can utilize them better. Canned Acheta domesticus has the same nutritional value as live crickets, but is easier to digest.

The blanched crickets are not suitable for hunting ant species that require live food. (e.g. ponerines (great ants) such as Harpegnathos or Odontomachus)

Further advantages:

Guaranteed mite-free

Can be portioned

Sterilized and vacuumed

Without additives

Crickets from sustainable, purely organic breeding, fed with organic waste

Please note:

Can be kept in the fridge for about four days after opening. Longer shelf life if frozen.