Messor desertus
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Description
Messor desertus is a species of desert harvester ant from the genus Messor, adapted to arid environments. These ants specialize in collecting and storing seeds, which serve as their primary food source. Workers have strong mandibles for crushing hard seed shells, while queens are larger with an enlarged thorax, enabling flight during the mating season. Known for their organized social structure, they are highly efficient and resilient, thriving in extreme desert conditions.
Additional information
| Behavior | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty in breeding | |
| Origin | |
| The size of ants | |
| Wintering |
Messor desertus
Colony Type: Monogyny
Colony Size: 5,000–10,000+ workers
Development Speed: Medium
Size
- Queen: 12–14 mm
- Workers: 4–6 mm
- Major : 8–11 mm
Nutrition
- Seeds (main diet): millet, dandelion, canary seed, grass seed, sesame, poppy
- Insects (occasionally): fruit flies, roaches, mealworms — especially for founding queens and brood boost
- Soft fruits: grape or melon (optional — not always accepted)
- Grit/sand or crushed eggshells for digestion
Temperature and Humidity
- Humidity: Arena: 20–40% | Nest: 40–55%
- Temperature: Arena: 26–36 °C | Nest: 28–32 °C
Recommended nests
In captivity, M. desertus thrives in dry formicaria made of Ytong, gypsum, or acrylic, with dedicated dry seed chambers. Good ventilation and moisture control are essential to prevent seed mold. Excessive humidity is a risk.
Founding queens can be kept in a warm test tube with some crushed seeds and light protein. Once the first workers emerge, colony development becomes steadier. Major workers typically appear after ~100 workers, but this varies by temperature and food access.
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