Camponotus fellah

This is a beautifully colored, vibrant ant species. Remarkable are apart from the color the elongated heads of the workers.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Camponotini
• Distribution: Middle east, Northern Africa
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: No
• Climate: tropical
• Nest building: Soil nests, between stones
• Planting: nothing specific
• Level: easy

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Camponotus maculatus

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Camponotini
• Distribution: Central Africa
• Color: small ants are yellow till brown, majors are marmorate
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: No
• Climate: tropical (moist)
• Nest building: Soil nests, between stones
• Planting: nothing specific
• Level: easy
• Specifics: Builds "half" calderas (one sided)

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Camponotus sp. "Africa"

Various Camponotus species of East Africa.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Camponotini
• Size: Queen: 10 - 12 mm
• Distribution: East Africa
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: No
• Temperature: 26 - 30 °C (very hot)
• Humidity: dry (veld)

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Camponotus sp. "Africa"

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Cataglyphis cf.viaticus

The kinds of the type Cataglyphis are exclusively ground inhabitants. In adaptation to their way of life as a ground hunter they have nearly lost the ability to climb up at plain surfaces like panes of glass. They do this only under the greatest efforts and undertake such excursion only at food storage, at concerns or lack of space. As an inhabitant of subtropic areas this ant needs a rest, like the hibernation of local kinds. A cool down of the terrarium on 15 to 18 degrees for 1 to 2 months in the winter is enough to interrupt the brood activity and to give the colony time to regenerate. Also offer enough fodder in the form of carbohydrates now.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Formicini
• Distribution: Mediterranean countries, north africa
• Characteristics: polymorph
• Appearence of the queen: head and thorax matt red, abdomen matt black, bottom side of the abdomen shiny black, very long legs
• Appearance of the workers: Head and thorax matt red, abdomen matt black, bottom side of the abdomen shiny black, very long legs
• Size: Queen about 16 mm, Workers: 6 - 16 mm
• Breed-time: fast (4 - 6 weeks)
• Nest building: soil nests
• Nutrition: living insects self-hunted, also fresh-dead insects and other invertebrates, honey- and sugar water, always fresh water in a drank. (The kind is not excessively demanding, but needs, sufficient care and constant supplies of animal protein during the summer period)
• Temperature: warm (25 - 30 °C), in the deeper nest area there should be cooler areas.
• Air humidity: in the deeper nest area there should be areas with higher air humidity. besides dry, occasional spraying of the runout area with water.
• Number of basins: 1 basin is adequate, but with a base as lage as possible.
• Dimensions of basin: at least 40 x 30 x 30 cm (depending of colony-size), with a possibility to clean up the nest
• Soil conditions: sand, loam, stones. Design the fittings from steppes to dessert-like, some dry branches increase the runout surface.
• Planting: Plantation with mediterranean plants is advantageous. Hydrocultures with havy little stones are advisable, because for the big and strong ants it is impossible then to put on twig nests in the damp root area.
• Accessories: an infrared heating lamp for heating the nest. Terrarium lighting with clock timer. 
• Keeping level: middle

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Messor arenarius

A matt black colored Messor species from the middle east and northern Africa. This species don't requires hibernation and can be kept warm or at room temperatur in winter. Messsor arenarius is a slim gracile and large Messor species that similar like other Messor produces so called ants bread. This species feeds not only exclusively of seeds, but also by other small animals.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: black
• Size: Worker: 5-18 mm, Queen: 20 mm
• Distribution: Middle East, Northern Africa
• Characteristics:  polymorph, monogyne
• Nest building: Soil nests, often under stones
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 24- 28°C
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: dry
• Planting: nothing specific

All of our Messor will be shipped with a small container of hand-picked plant seeds that are most popular for the Messor.

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Messor cephalotes

Largest Messor species in the world with huge majors - it is highly polymorphic. The young animals of these ants have a bright red color. This species does not require hibernation and can be kept warm.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: copper red
• Distribution: Central and East Africa
• Characteristics:  polymorph, monogyne
• Nest building: Large soil nests
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 24- 28°C
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: dry
• Planting: nothing specific

All of our Messor will be shipped with a small container of hand-picked plant seeds that are most popular for the Messor.

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Messor cf. ebeninus

A black colored messor species that can be found in Middle East and North Africa. For that reason this species don't require an extensive hibernation phase and so can be kept warm or at room temperatur in winter.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: black
• Size: Worker: 4-11 mm, Queen: 12-13 mm
• Distribution: Middle East, Northern Africa
• Characteristics:  polymorph, monogyne
• Nest building: Soil nests, often under stones
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 16- 25°C (Mediterranean)
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: dry
• Planting: nothing specific

All of our Messor will be shipped with a small container of hand-picked plant seeds that are most popular for the Messor.

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Messor hesperius

Beautiful brown-black colored messor species which is also known as Messor minor hesperius.This species can be found in low lands and also in mountains and don't requires hibernation phase.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: Workers: brown with black abdomen, Queen: black
• Size: Worker: 4-11mm, Queen: 12-13mm
• Distribution: Macronesia
• Characteristics:  polymorph
• Nest building: Soil nests, often under stones
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 22 - 30 °C (Mediterranean)
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: 50-65% (mountains)
• Planting: nothing specific

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Messor sp. (Central Africa)

Central African Messor species with extra ordinary red colored heads. This species doesn't need hibernation. They subsist on seeds, honey-/sugar water but also insects (similar to many Pheidole species). They will often nests in sand or loamy sand.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: shinny black, red heads
• Distribution: Central Africa
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 35 °C
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Nest building: Soil nests, loam, pebbles
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy to keep

All Messor will be included with untreated hand-picked plant seeds.

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Messor sp. (Nothern Africa)

Nothern African Messor species with extra ordinary red colored heads. This species doesn't need hibernation. They subsist on seeds, honey-/sugar water but also insects (similar to many Pheidole species). They often nests in sand or loamy sand.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black brown
• Distribution: Nothern Africa
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 35 °C
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Nest building: Soil nests, loam, pebbles
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy to keep

All Messor will be included with untreated hand-picked plant seeds.

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Myrmicaria sp. "Africa"

A dominant Myrmicaria species from East Africa which builds large nests. This species builds dense streets with ants like Atta in the new world. They build crateriform nests often arround tree trunks.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Myrmicariini
• Origin: East Africa
  
• Characteristics: Monomorph, can not sting
• Hibernation: No
• Nest bulding: soil nests, near tree trunks
• Nutrition: honeywater, insects
• Temperature: 26 - 30°C
• Air humidity: dry (veld)
  
  

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Pachycondyla analis (Megaponera foetens)

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Platythyrea cribrinodis

 Interesting ponerinae species from veld of East-Africa. It is an aggresive species.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Ponerinae, Tribe Platythyreini
• Distribution: East-Africa
• Color: black (matt)
• Size: ca. 20 mm
• Hibernation: No
• Nutrition: Honey-/Sugar water, fruits, insects and other small animals, also brood of other ants like Lasius niger
• Temperature: hot, 26 - 30°C (Ground 26°C)
• Humidity: dry
• Soil condition: Sand, Soil
• Nest building: Soil nest with tree stump or tree root
• Activity: diurnal
• Notes: unsuitable for keeping in community basin (exception is Meranoplus)

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Tetraponera sp. "orange"

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