{"product_id":"messor-barbarus-kolonie-koningin-en-10-werksters","title":"Messor barbarus colony, queen and 10+ workers","description":"\u003ch1\u003eMessor barbarus harvester ant colony 10+\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSpecies\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Messor barbarus ant is also known as the harvester ant. They collect (grass) seeds. They chew these seeds finely and mix them with moisture. In this way, they 'harvest' the seeds into a type of ant bread, which serves as food. Our ant colonies consist of a queen along with brood and a number of workers. This number depends on the number of eggs that have developed into ants (egg-larva-pupa-ant). This colony already contains at least 10 workers, and the workers have thus been produced by the queen ant herself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nNutrition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe nutrition set above, including seeds, is a complete diet for this species. The set consists of sugar water, honeydew, fruit flies, and a starter set of seeds. The starter set of seeds is sufficient for the first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSuitable for\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 13px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe ant colony is intended for acrylic, plaster, and sand ant farms. We also recommend using an arena. The ants can get their food there and dispose of waste. Many products have an integrated arena. You will find this ant colony at a special combined price with various Ant Farms.\u003cbr\u003e\nIf you are looking for ants for a gel ant farm, we recommend the ant family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nPackaging and shipping\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 13px;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe photo shows how the product is actually delivered by us. The colony is in a test tube with a cotton ball at the back providing water to keep the nest tube partly moist. The colony can stay in this tube for up to a few weeks without care (after receipt). We also guarantee the life of the queen for that long. If the queen does not arrive alive or dies within a few weeks, we will provide a replacement colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSpecifications and information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n \n\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"3\" style=\"height: 300px; width: 600px;\"\u003e\n\t\u003ctbody\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eScientific name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eMessor barbarus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eDutch name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eThe harvester ant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eDifficulty level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003e1. Beginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eQueen | Gyne:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003e14-18 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eWorkers:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003e3-14 mm\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tThe larger the colony, the larger the ants that will emerge\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tMediors and Majors (soldiers).\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eColony type:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eMonogyn, 1 queen per nest.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eNest type:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eSand nests, relatively deep. Very wide, often under grass.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eRoom temperature, 15-30 degrees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eHibernation:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eNo, but winter rest. Our advice: keep them slightly cooler\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tin winter, around 15 degrees.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tFor example, in a cellar, cooler attic, or shed.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tNovember-February\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tOur experience: even in winter at room temperature\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tthese ant colonies continue to develop well.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eNutrition:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eSugar or honey water and small insects:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tOur advice for smaller colonies: fruit flies.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tMain food: various seeds (grass seeds, birdseed,\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tdandelion seeds, etc...)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eSimple. Advice: Keep part of the nest slightly moist\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tThis species prefers drier conditions than, for example, Lasius\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tniger and Myrmica rubra.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eDistribution area:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003e(Southern) Europe and (North) Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eAnt Farm recommendation:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eAcrylic, Plaster, or Sand including the use of an Arena area\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd align=\"left\" valign=\"top\"\u003eRemarks:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003e- Messor barbarus is a common ant species\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tin Southern Europe. You can find them there in gardens, parks, and\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tforest areas. With some patience, you can grow and observe them well\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tin an Ant Farm. They are particularly interesting because of their diet (the seeds). They need\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tspace to store the seeds, and therefore they quickly use\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tmore nest space than other ant species.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t- Mediors and Majors also occur in larger colonies.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tLarger ants that have the task of protecting (soldiers).\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t- Messor colonies develop on average faster than most species\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tfrom the Netherlands. In Ant Farms, they grow into colonies of hundreds\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tor a few thousand ants. If you want it larger, you can always connect\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tadditional enclosures.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t- Messor barbarus is our favorite ant species ;-)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57217105133903,"sku":"OMB10","price":25.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0996\/6528\/1359\/files\/2026027245_773f67f6-7496-4ac3-b5b9-67e299c4fc69.jpg?v=1773846280","url":"https:\/\/ants-kingdom-mierenboerderij.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/messor-barbarus-kolonie-koningin-en-10-werksters","provider":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","version":"1.0","type":"link"}