Meranoplus bicolor

• Taxonomy: Subfymily Myrmicinae, Tribe Meranoplini
• Distribution: South-East Asia
• Appearence of the queen: Approximately twice as large as the workers.
• Appearance of the workers: Black head and abdomen, torax red-brown; size like Lasius niger, but haired
• Nest building: Soil nests (caldera)
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects, grains
• Hibernation: No
• Temperature: Warm: 25 - 30 °C
• Soil condition: sand, loam
• Planting: small potted plants
• Specifics: The ants move very slowly, because they trusting in their cemical defence. Meranoplus- strange looking ant 'cause of her furry hear.

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Meranoplus sp.

• Taxonomy: Subfymily Myrmicinae, Tribe Meranoplini
• Distribution: South Asia
• Appearence of the queen: Approximately twice as large as the workers.
• Appearance of the workers: red with black abdomen
• Nest building: Soil nests (caldera), sunny
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects, grains
• Hibernation: No
• Temperature: Warm: 25 - 30 °C
• Climate: tropical
• Soil condition: sand, loam
• Specifics: The ants move very slowly, because they trusting in their cemical defence. Meranoplus is a strange looking ant because of her furry hear.

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Messor cf. orientalis

Oriental Messor species which don't need hibernation. This species is also active in cool season in their range. It is significant easier to keep this species than for example Messor barbarus and they subsist on seeds, honey-/sugar water but also insects (similar to many Pheidole species). A typical identifiers is the caldera formed nest entry. They will often be found in sand or loamy sand. The shape of the body is slimmer than of Messor barbarus and the color of the workers is brown till black. The queen is colored black with brown legs.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: Workers: darkbrown, Queen: black with brown legs
• Size: Queen 11 - 13 mm
• Distribution: Orient (Asia Minor)
• Characteristics:  polymorph
• Nest building: Soil nests, often in sand or under stones
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 22 - 30 °C
• Hibernation: No
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Planting: nothing specific
• Level: very easy to keep

Please note: Formerly this was specified as Messor spec. (the large form).

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Myrmicaria arachnoides

An undemanding ants species from the mountains of Southeast Asia which is good for keeping cooler. Because colonies of this species becomes large is is suited for keeping in large basin complxes connected with pipes. Also this Myrmicaria defend oneself with it's defense secretion.

• Origin: Southeast Asia (mountains about 1500 m)
• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Myrmicariini
• Characteristics: Monomorph, can not sting
• Hibernation: No
• Appearence of the queen: deep brown with orange thorax, humpy
• Appearance of the workers: deep brown
• Nest bulding: soil nests
• Nutrition: honeywater, insects
• Temperature: 14 - 25°C
• Air humidity: 60 - 80 % (tropical climate)
  
  

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Myrmicaria arachnoides

These specie build carton nests, similar like wasps, they need high air humidity for the nestbuilding (often spray in the closed basin). They sit up on their long extremities by danger and deliver a little drop turpentinelike defence-secretion at their protruding sting. Slow walking animals. Never nestling in the soil; carton nests often under leafs, no house-ant.

• Origin: Southeast Asia (mountains about 800 m)
• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Myrmicariini
• Characteristics: Monomorph
• Hibernation: No
• Appearence of the queen: deep brown, humpy, with long extremities
• Appearance of the workers: same as queen
• Nest bulding: carton nests under leaves of trees
• Nutrition: honeywater, insects
• Temperature: 18 - 25°C
• Air humidity: 60 - 80 % (tropical climate)
• Soil conditions: only necessary for planting, nesting between leaves
• Planting: ficus, Pachira aquatica
• Level: Difficult
• Specifics: It is advisable to use an Formicarium top covering to keep temperature and air humidity constant. Othwerwise they aren't able to build carton nests.
  

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