Latin name: Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Common name: Wild ants

Taxonomy: Subfamily: Myrmicinae

Breeding level: Experienced can bite painfully and in some cases cause allergic reactions so not for children

Distribution: United States, Northern Mexico

House: desert

Colony: monogyne

Queen: Size: 10 - 11mm Color: reddish brown

Worker: Size: 5 - 9mm Color: reddish brown

Soldier: not present

Nutrition: mainly seeds, for example millet, alpine and insects eg flies or mealworms

Humidity of the air: Hunting area: 30 - 50% Nest: 50 - 60%

Temperature: Hunting area: 22 - 28 ° C Nest: 24 - 28 ° C

Hibernation: yes, like the Mediterranean species for 2 to 3 months at a temperature of 15 to 18 ° C (unheated room)

Nesting form in nature: Builds their nest in soil up to 2 m and several dome exit of 10 cm in height.

Preferred nest type: Plaster tube the first year and after stone nest

Nest size: M - L

Substrate for terra: clay sand

Planting in hunting area: similar to desert areas with grass and different cacti

Decoration: Branches, Roots

Description: Desert species from North America and Central America. They store the seeds in granaries up to 2 m deep, they are identical to the Messor of Europe with the possibility of stitching making it a very good footwear. In the wild, they build huge underground nests and tunnels. To grind hard seeds, they have a robust head with strong mandibles.

Swarming: July to August

Foundation: cloistral in a test tube with a little sand

Adult colony size: up to 10,000 workers