{"product_id":"messor-barbarus-kolonie-koningin-en-300-werksters","title":"Messor barbarus colony, queen and 300+ workers","description":"\u003ch1\u003eMessor barbarus harvester ant colony 300+\u003c\/h1\u003e\n \n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies\u003c\/h2\u003e\n \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. 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 350 or more workers, and these workers have therefore been produced by the queen ant herself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003ch2\u003eNutrition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003eThe food 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\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable for\u003c\/h2\u003e\n \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. With several ant farms, you will find this ant colony in a special combined price offer.\u003cbr\u003e\nIf you are looking for ants for a gel ant farm, we recommend the ant family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003ch2\u003ePackaging and shipping\u003c\/h2\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003eThe photo shows how the product is actually delivered by us. The colony is in a test tube with a cotton wool plug at the back for water supply to keep the nest tube partially moist. The colony can remain in this tube for up to a few weeks without care (after receipt). We also guarantee the life of the queen for this period. If the queen does not arrive alive or dies within a few weeks, we will provide a replacement colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications 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 class\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 join it\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, bird seeds,\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 (Northern) 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 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\"\u003eComments:\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 a little patience, you can raise and observe them well in an ant\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tfarm. They are particularly interesting because of their diet (the seeds). They need\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tspace to store the seeds and therefore 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\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tspecies from the Netherlands. In ant farms, they grow\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tinto colonies of hundreds or a few thousand ants.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\tIf you want it larger, you can of course always connect additional habitats.\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t- Messor barbarus is our favourite ant species ;-)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\t\t\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\t\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n \n\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57218451112271,"sku":"OMB300","price":97.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0996\/6528\/1359\/files\/2026027029_193da9e1-2faf-4898-ac4b-5eb8d35bc756.jpg?v=1773832477","url":"https:\/\/ants-kingdom-mierenboerderij.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/messor-barbarus-kolonie-koningin-en-300-werksters","provider":"Ant's Kingdom | Mierenboerderij","version":"1.0","type":"link"}