Starter set with messor barbarus ant colony

- Messor Barbarus ant colony
A queen and a few first workers (nanitics)
- Cotton wool
For example, to prepare a new test tube, also handy to use a small piece for offering liquids (no risk of drowning)
- Anti outbreak set
A specially developed prevention to keep ants in the outside world. Shake well before use!
- Feeding syringe
Handy to administer the sugar water in small quantities.
- Test tube outworld
Outside world for the ants where they get food and dispose of waste.
- 5x test tube 16 x 150 mm
Extra test tubes, for expansion, and / or replacement if the current one is contaminated or its water reservoir is empty. - Seed mix 10 grams
A specially formulated seed mix for starting ant colonies.
- Sugar water, keep in the fridge!
Liquid sugar water
- Fruit flies
Small test tube with fruit flies, these are best kept in the freezer, then they will keep for at least 3-4 weeks.
- Move supplies (test tube coupling piece, coupling T piece, piece of hose)
To be able to move the colony to a new / clean test tube.

Basic information Messor barbarus

Scientific name: Messor Barbarus
Distribution: Mediterranean sea area, mainly Southern Europe
Difficulty: 1.5 / 5
Queen size: 14-16mm
Workers size: 3-8mm
Soldiers size: 8-15mm
Hibernation: early November-February at 15 degrees
Growth rate: 2/5
Temperature: 21-29 degrees
Optimal temperature: 25-27 degrees
Recommended nest type: ytong / acrylic / 3d
Diet: mainly seeds, insects, sugar liquids
Messor barbarus is a species in the subfamily Myrmicinae. They are also referred to as the harvester ant. because they are known to take various kinds of seeds and grind them into a paste which they then feed to the larvae and the queen. They are moderately easy going, making little demands on their conditions making them an ideal genus for patient beginners.