Messor minor – Queenless workers

Description

The Ant Farming Charter on our Ants:

– Raised by a specialist in optimal conditions, guaranteed free from parasites,
– Health demonstrated by the laying of the queen and the presence of brood on shipment,
– No “boost” (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
– Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial refund in case of loss of workers, total in case of loss of the queen (if delivered within 48 hours), –
Shipped all year round, from -12°C +40°C thanks to our free insulated packaging,
– Supplied with a care sheet and a health sheet,
– Species present in France, non-invasive and not threatened,
– Colony taken back and costs covered if you wish to part with it (see conditions ).
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This colony does not have a queen. The lifespan of workers is from a few days to about 1 year depending on their age.

The activity will be limited and there will be no possible development.
Allows you to test an anthill or carry out a short or medium term experiment.
For more workers, take several colonies which will be joined together in tubes of 50 to 100 workers

Here is our new flagship species!
Messor barbarus is captivating and easy to breed. Messor minor is even more so! Ant farming will bring you hours of captivating observations, discover the incredible behavior of an exciting social insect! We deliver our colonies with a complete sheet on their needs and their way of life in order to know everything.

We deliver colonies in excellent health and transport by post is no problem for this easy-to-raise insect.
Discover our guarantees by clicking here! Note: Species incompatible with gel anthills!

Why buy a species that you will eventually get tired of or that you will no longer be able to take care of?

Indeed, Messor minor is a nicely colored species that simply feeds on seeds, hence its ease of breeding, but its development is particularly rapid and above all, it does not need to overwinter, which represents a serious constraint for less !

No need to look for overpriced exotic ants, we have chosen the best French species for you!

Leaving Messor minor warm all year round will not harm its development or health, on the contrary! You will notice incessant activity and ever-increasing egg-laying by the queen. This one can even develop a fairly marked physogastrie (swelling of the abdomen) after about a year of breeding, a sign that the laying is still accelerating.

Remember, however, that ants adapt their population to the available space. If you don't want your Messor minor to take up too much space, just leave them in an Antvarium of the desired dimensions.

It is the ideal species for beginners but experienced amateurs will find in Messor minor all the qualities they could seek, in particular the presence of majors (large workers).

Moreover, we think that she can be polygynous in certain colonies (possible cohabitation of several queens).

Messor minor is black with a dark red head and thorax, whatever the size of the workers, unlike Messor barbarus, of which only the largest workers are colored.

– Easy-to-breed species, safe for humans and the environment, non-invasive, queens harvested in respect of natural reserves and local resources.
– It is neither protected nor threatened with extinction.
– It is present in France, mainly in Corsica but also on the continent.

In breeding, all you have to do is keep the water supply of the Artificial Anthill moist and check that it still has seeds to eat.
Also remember to keep the feeding area clean. It is also important to provide Messor minor with a special drinker or to put drops of water on a waterproof material in the feeding area. A heating mat will be enough to keep your Messor minor at the right temperature.
Nothing's easier !

Breeding conditions and information about Messor minor:

– Recommended daytime temperature: 26 to 29°C all year round.
A hot spot at 30°C and a cooler area is ideal. – Recommended temperature at night: 22 to 24°C, possibly less
– Humidity rate: Similar to Messor barbarus but more tolerant, adapts to all our models of Artificial Anthills
– Presence of minors, medias and majors (small, medium and large workers appearing over time)
– Drinker: Important in the feeding area (special drinker or drops of water deposited with a syringe)
– Light: Very tolerant, does not fear light but should never be exposed to sun
– Estimated development speed: Up to 3000 workers in the first year.
– Size of the workers: from 3 to 11mm
– Size of the queen: about 13mm
– Dangerousness: None, does not sting, is not aggressive, is not invasive.
Despite everything, it remains essential never to release a colony into the wild. – Type of habitat: Any Artificial Anthill available on our site equipped with rooms with mineral layer

Did you know that, to summarize:
– The queen and therefore the colony of Messor minor can live up to fifteen years,
– It enough to feed its Messor minor barely once a month because they store the seeds on which they feed
– The queen lays eggs which become larvae, then nymphs and finally adults in just 30 days
– With Messor minor, it is relatively easy to have reproductions in captivity to replace an old queen or try to create a colony with several queens
– Messor minor are not aggressive but you can offer them other types of food: insects, biscuit crumbs, etc. .
– The colony is supplied in a tube allowing the colony to be reared for some time before installing it in one of our Artificial Anthills.
– Delivery of the queen in good health is guaranteed.
– Weekend shipping can be postponed to Monday for ant comfort, mainly in case of critical temperatures

Do not hesitate to buy ants!