Latin name: Messor barbarus

Taxonomy: Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribes: Pheidolini

Breeding level: Beginner

Geographical distribution: Southern Europe, North Africa

Habitat: Sands and steppes

Colony form: Monogyne and Polygyne

Queen: Size: 13 - 14mm Color: Black and brick red more or less pronounced

Workers: Size: 7 - 9mm Color: Black

Major: Size 10 - 14mm Color: Black and brick red head

Male: Size: 9mm Color: Black

Food: Mainly granivorous that eat various seeds, but also many small insects such as mealworms, flies, mosquitoes, crickets, a water trough is mandatory for the creation of ant bread.

Humidity: Hunting area: 30 - 50% Nest: 50 - 70%

Temperature: Hunting area: 25 - 30 ° C Nest: 23 - 28 ° C

Hibernation: Yes, from mid-November to early March between 12 and 15 ° C

Nest type: Plexiglas nest, nest with tubes, reconstituted stone nest.

Description: Messor barbarus is a mainly granivorous species, very interesting to observe with the manufacture of ant bread to feed the brood, 3 different minor castes, media and major with each of the different roles, but also very good hunters once the colony becomes populous, an ideal species for beginners because very strong who forgives the errors of breeding.

Development: Swarming from mid-September to the end of October.

Foundation: Set in a cloister (without food) Development: 45 days from egg to worker (depending on temperature)

Size of the colony: Up to 50,000 individuals, the queen can reach the age of 25 years.