Messor cephalotes
| Latin Name: |  |
Messor cephalotes |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Pheidolini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) specie from eastafrica with higher requirements towards food and climate |
| Distribution: |  |
Ethopien, Kenya, Tansania, |
| Habitat: |  |
Sand and shrub areas |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 23 - 25mm Colour: shiny reddish |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 5 - 18mm Colour: shiny reddish, polymorph |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
Seeds of various grasses and wild plants but also insects such as flies, mosquitoes or small crickets. Young colonies and founding queens need more protein and sugar water than grains, from a colony size of about 50-100 workers they can be fed more grains. |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 25 - 30°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in soil and under stones |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Combibasin, Basin, Ytong/Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to Savannaareas with grass and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots |
| Description: |  |
This specie is highly granivor ant which collect all kinds of small seeds and chew them into so- called antbread. Most of their waterrequirements are covered through seeds and insects. Honeywater is only accepted when there is a lack of moisture. Messor cephalotes tends to drown in open Water so it is necessary to cover waterplaces with little stones or cotton. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: claustral (without feeding) colonyage up to 25 years colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |