Aphaenogaster sp.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black (greying), haired
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 28 °C
• Humidity: dry
• Nest building: Soil nests, also under stones
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Haired ant with longish heads

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Aphaenogaster sp. "oriental"

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: light brown, black abdomen
• Distribution: Orient
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 18 - 28 °C
• Humidity: dry
• Nest building: Soil nests, also under stones
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Haired ant with longish heads

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Camponotus aethiops

Camponotus aethiops is a shinny black colored heat loving Camponotus species that nests preferably in stony areas. This species is also polymorph with minor- and major workers with different shape and size.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Central- and South Europe
• Farbe: shinny black
• Size: 7 - 13 mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers, monogyne
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Temperatur: hot
• Humidity: dry
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In soil or sand
• Soil condition: sand or stony soil

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Camponotus barbaricus

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Color: black with red-brown thorax
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Temperature: 20 - 30 °C
• Nest building: Build their nest under stones or in soil
• Planting: mediteranian
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Has Minor- and Major workers. Very fortified aggressive ant species. A radiant heating should heat a stone or an angle of the formicarium in the daytime.

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Camponotus cruentatus

Camponotus cruentatus is one of the largest European ants species. This species has a very interesting color. In nature they can be found in very sunny places.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Southern Europe
• Size: 10 - 15 mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers, monogyne
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Temperatur: hot
• Humidity: dry
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In soil or sand, death wood
• Soil condition: sand or stony soil and deathwood
• Specifics: Very aggressive and snappy

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Camponotus herculeanus

Camponotus herculeanus is one of the biggest european ant species. Can be mostly found in highlands and they build theire nests in wood (coniferous wood)

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Color: black with dark brown thorax
• Distribution: Central Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: Build their nest in wood with greater underground areas
• Planting: Similary to the forest or mountains with branches, roots, moos
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Has Minor- and Major workers. Very fortified; could with one bite decapitate formica-ants. They attack humans only by nest disruption. Shows activity by day and night (diurnal and nocturnal). They build nests preferably in wood or under stones. A radiant heating should heat a stone or an angle of the formicarium in the daytime.

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Camponotus lateralis

This is a small Camponotus species which can be found in Southern Europe in arid and shady regions, mostly in soil under stones or in rotten wood. A very specific character of this species is that larger worker acts as "honeypot".

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Camponotini
• Distribution: Southern Europe
• Color: red brown with dark brown gaster
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Climate: Mediteranian (dry)
• Nest building: Often soil nests under stones, but also rotten wood
• Planting: nothing specific
• Difficulty: easy

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Camponotus ligniperdus

Camponotus ligniperda is one of the biggest european ant species. Prefers sunny and dry slopes and can be found in stony ground as well as in rotten wood. Can be found in low-level as well as in mountains.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Color: black with light red-brown abdomen
• Distribution: Central Europe
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 25 °C
• Nest building: Build their nest under wood with greater underground areas; also only soil nests
• Planting: Similary to the forest or mountains with branches, roots, moos
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Has Minor- and Major workers. Very fortified; could with one bite decapitate formica-ants. They attack humans only by nest disruption. Shows activity by day and night (diurnal and nocturnal). They build nests preferably in wood or under stones. A radiant heating should heat a stone or an angle of the formicarium in the daytime.

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Camponotus micans

Camponotus micans is a south European and african ants species with preference for sunny and dry places.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Southern Europe
• Size: 8 - 15 mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers, monogyne
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Temperatur: hot
• Humidity: dry
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In soil or sand
• Soil condition: sand or stony soil

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Camponotus nylanderi

Subfamily: Formicinae

Tribus: Camponotini

Origin: Southern Europe, lives there in dry areas in Soilnests

Nutrition: sugar water and insects

Level: easy

Hibernation: November - February at 10-15 degrees

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Camponotus piceus

Camponotus piceus is a strong polymorph and inoffensive Camponotus species that can be found on dry and warm locations. Smallerst workers are just as large as Lasius niger. This species is suitable for keeping in mediteranean community basin.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: South Europe
• Characteristics: strong polymorph (smallest workers as large as Lasius niger)
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Colony size: small
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In dry soil loam/sand

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Camponotus truncatus

Camponotus truncatus (formerly known as Colobopsis) is a tree dweller ant species which can be found in deadwood (rotten branches of trees) and which can be found in warmer regions of Germany or in Mediterranean area. A distinctive feature of this species are the major workers which have a kind of bung shaped head to close the nestentry. Also the Queen has such a shaped head to close nest entry during colony foundation. This species generally avoids confrontation with other ant species, however they are aggressive against strange colonies of the same species.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Central- and South Europe
• Size: Major/Minor: 3-6mm, Queen: 6-7mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Colony size: small, up to 500 workers.
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In deadwood, founding also in stems of certain plants
• Specifics: There are Major- and Minor workers whereby major workers have a kind of bung shaped head to close nest entry.

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Camponotus vagus

Camponotus vagus is a black, haired, strong and aggressive Camponotus species that can be found mainly in deadwood. This species is polymorph with size difference of up to 1 cm. This species can be found in clear forest, preferably pine forests.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Central- and South Europe
• Size: 6 - 16 mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Colony size: large
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In deadwood, under stones
• Specifics: There are Major- and Minor workers
• Soil condition: forest floor

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Cataglyphis hispanicus

Very fortified aggressive ant species with good sight. It is a long-legged and fast moving ant species. They almost can't climb glass panes.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Color: black, graying
• Characteristics: strong polymorph
• Size: 5 - 14 mm
• Distribution: Iberian peninsula
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Temperature: 20 - 35 °C (summer, outside the nest)
• Nest building: Build their nest deep in soil, creates calderas
• Planting: steppe like
• Class: medium

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Cataglyphis nodus

This is the largest Cataglyphis throughout Europe which is distributed from Asia minor to Central Europe.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Asia minor, Southern to Central Europe
• Color: red with black abdomen
• Characteristics: monogyne, polymorph
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Temperature: 20 - 35 °C (summer, outside the nest)
• Nest building: Build their nest deep in soil, creates calderas, also under stones
• Planting: steppe like
  

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Cataglyphis velox

Very fortified aggressive ant species with good sight. It is a long-legged and fast moving ant species. They almost can't climb glass panes.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: Southern Europe (mountain range)
• Color: red with black abdomen
• Characteristics: strong polymorph
• Size: Workers: 4 - 13 mm, Queen: 11 - 13 mm
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Temperature: 20 - 35 °C (summer, outside the nest)
• Nest building: Build their nest deep in soil, creates calderas, also under stones
• Planting: steppe like
• Class: medium

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Crematogaster scutellaris

This is a beautiful colored red-black colored ants species of Southern Europe. This species often forage on long street to their feeding lots. On excitement they raises the gaster upwards similar to a scorpion to defend their attackers with their defense secretion.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae
• Distribution: Southern Europe
• Color: shiny black with red head
• Size: Queen 7 -9 mm
• Nest building: Nests in death wood of trees.
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Soil condition: any, wood nests
• Level: easy

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Dendrolasius fuliginosus

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Formica (Raptiformica) sanguinea

This species is very fascinating because of their "robbery of slaves". During the summer month they organize predatory attacks to the nests of their "helping ants" (Slaves) which provide for the inner household. It could be possible that the slaves also be integrate in the defence. According to the slaves they build a species-typical nest for the robber-ants. Raptiformica sanguinea could as well live without slaves contrary to the "Slave-robbers" Polyergus rufescens (protected specie). Inside the Terrarium such a predatory attack can be produced artificially by giving them cocoons of the slave-ants. So it will be possible to control the amount of different slaves.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Europe
• Characteristics: Monomorph
• Color: red-brown, black abdomen and head
• Nest-building: Ants hill like this of red wood ants
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Air humidity: dry
• Temperature: Room temperature (Day: heating source)
• Soil conditions: Sand, pebbles, roots, forest litter material
• Planting: not necessary
• Level: easy

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Formica (Serviformica) cinerea

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Europe
• Characteristics: Monomorph, greater colonies polygyn
• Appearence: Colour: silver black; a little bit smaller than Formica rufa
• Size: 7 - 9 mm
• Nest-building: Creates sand nests; build sand funnels
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Temperature: Room temperature, very cold resistance
• Soil conditions: Sand
• Planting: veld plants
• Level: easy

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Formica (Serviformica) cunicularia

Common "helping ant" (slaves) like Formica fusca for the predation ants e.g. Raptiformica or Polyergus. It is favored over Formica fusca by Polyergus for example.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Europe
• Characteristics: Monomorph, colonies seldom polygyn
• Size: Workers: 5 - 7 mm, Queen: 8 -9 mm
• Nest-building: Earth mounds in sunny grass land
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: warm (at day time heating source possible)
• Soil conditions: Sand-Loam
• Planting: optional
• Level: easy

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Formica (Serviformica) fusca

Common "helping ant" (sclaves) for the predation ants e.g. Raptiformica.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Europe
• Characteristics: Monomorph, greater colonies polygyn
• Size: 5 - 8 mm
• Appearence of the queen: Colour: glossy black; a little bit smaller than Formica rufa
• Appearence of the workers: Colour: glossy black; a little bit smaller than Formica rufa
• Nest-building: Under rotten wood, under stones and in soil
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Temperature: Room temperature, very cold resistance
• Soil conditions: Similar to the forest biotopes, brieght
• Planting: Moos (optional)
• Level: easy

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Formica (Serviformica) lusatica (polygyn)

A Serviformica which prefers wram, sunny sand habitates.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Middle- to Northern Europe and Middle Asia
• Characteristics: Monomorph, polygyn
• Size:
• Nest-building: Sand mounds
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: warm (at day time heating source possible)
• Soil conditions: Sand-Loam
• Planting: optional
• Level: easy

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Lasius cf. lasioides

Lasius lasioides is a small Lasius species distributed in Southern of Europe and hence doesn't require deep hibernation. In contrary to Laius niger this species is colored more blackish-brown (especially their limbs) and is a bit smaller (2-3 mm). It is also less aggressive. Nests are builded well in deadwood as under stones (in soil).

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Size: Workers: 2 - 3 mm, Queen: 7 - 8 mm
• Color: blackish-brown
• Distribution: Southern Europe (Lowlands)
• Nutrition: primary honey- or sugar water and later protein in the form of insects and other small animals
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 28 °C
• Nest building: soild nests, deathwood

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Lasius emarginatus

Two colored, monogyne Lasius species with distribution in Middle Euope. It is the fastest moving Lasius species with the best optical orientation and good recruition.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Size: Workers: 3,5 - 5 mm, Queen: 8 - 9 mm
• Color: two colored (see Photo)
• Distribution: Middle Europe
• Nutrition: primary insects, but also nectar and sweet fruits
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20° - 25° C
• Nest building: Nists under stones, between brickwork or in rotten wood. Will also partly creates carton nests.
• Planting: not necessary
• Class: very easy
• Safety note: This species should be kept in break out safe environment because this species can also be found near or in houses.

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Lasius flavus

Lasius flavus is a quince yellow ant species which is distributed throughout Europe. This species favor sunny places and can be found in the meadow between grass stems. It is a monogyne species.

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Lasius niger

Lasius niger is a aggressive shinny black ant species which is widely distributed throughout Europe. This species favor sunny places like waysides or sunny hills. It is a monogyne species.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Size: Workers: 3,5 - 5 mm, Queen: 8 - 9 mm
• Color: shinny black
• Distribution: throughout Europe
• Nutrition: primary honey- or sugar water and later protein in the form of insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20° - 25° C
• Nest building: Soil nests, builds small soil based mounds between grass stems or under stones
• Planting: Grass or similar (not suitable for the arena)
• Class: very easy

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Lasius umbratus

Lasius umbratus is a parasitic Formicinae. To gain access to the nest of the hosts (mostly Lasius niger) the Queen kills a worker ant to gain their scent. This will make it easier to infiltrate the host colony. However only a very small number of Queens are successful to access mostly small host colonies. After infiltration the host Queen will be neutralised either by killing or expelling. The host worker ants accept the new Queen and keep care on her brood. As there are more and more Lasius umbratus workers, the remaining host workers gets killed.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae, Tribe: Lasiini
• Size: Workers: 3,5 - 5 mm, Queen: 8 - 9 mm
• Color: Yellow to brownish yellow
• Distribution: throughout Europe, Asia and Northern America
• Nutrition: primary honey- or sugar water and later protein in the form of insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20° - 25° C
• Nest building: Soil nests, builds small soil based mounds between grass stems or under stones, partly "cardboard" nests
• Planting: Grass or similar (not suitable for the arena)
• Class: very easy after foundation

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Leptothorax acervorum

Small red-brown colored Myrmicinae which can be kept in small terrariums. It is also a preferred species for a conjoint with other ants because it is not dominant and avoids any conflicts with other ants.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: bicolored (red-brown)
• Size:
• Nest size: Medium (80 - 200 ants)
• Characteristics: monogyn and polygyn
• Distribution: Southern- to Northern Europe
• Nutrition: mostly small insects and also honey water
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: in rotten wood, small branches or under bark
• Planting: any
• Class: easy

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Manica rubida

Manica rubida s the largest stingable ant species from europe, very strong and tough ants. It's very demonstrative because of it's red color.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Size: Workers: 5 - 8 mm
• Color: red-brown
• Distribution: Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: Sunny, damp places, Soil nests (under stones), some times in rotten wood
• Planting: Grass (optional)
• Keeping level: easy
• Specifics: Workers can sting

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Messor barbarus

Messor barbarus is a Myrmicinae with minor- till major-worker with all passings. Great colonies carry on long "highways" their seeds into the nest. They storing the seed in different granaries and prepare in "chew-communities" the so-called ant bread especially for the colder season. They lay out an trash-accumulation.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black, sometimes red brown heads
• Size: Queen 14 - 16 mm
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 30 °C
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• 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.

Note: Young Queens from current season do not have any offspring (Queens with offspring and/or brood are from last year), they wil lay first eggs in spring.

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Messor bouvieri

• Taxonomy: Subfamily: Myrmicinae, Tribe: Pheidolini
• Color: black
• Size: Queen 14 - 16 mm
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Nest building: Soil nests
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy to keep

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Messor capitatus

Messor barbarus is a Myrmicinae with minor- till major-worker with all passings. Great colonies carry their seeds on long "highways" into the nest. They are storing the seeds in different granaries and prepare them in "chew-communities" to the so-called ant bread especially for the colder season. They lay out an trash-accumulation. This species can tolerate lower temperatures than Messor barbarus.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: shiny black
• Size: Queen 14 - 16 mm
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 30 °C
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Nest building: Soil nests
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy to keep

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

Note: Young Queens from current season do not have any offspring (Queens with offspring and/or brood are from last year), they wil lay first eggs in spring.

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Messor cf. meridionale

A dark brown colored messor species from Greece. 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: drak brown
• Size: Worker: 4-11 mm, Queen: 12-13 mm
• Origin: Greece
• 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: 20 - 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 cf. wasmanni

Messor cf. wasmanni is a Myrmicinae with minor- till major-worker with all passings. However their size is slightly smaller than for instance Messor barbarus. Great colonies carry on long "highways" their seeds into the nest. They storing the seed in different granaries and prepare in "chew-communities" the so-called ant bread especially for the colder season. They lay out an trash-accumulation.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black
• Distribution: South Europe
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 30 °C
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• 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 structor

Messor structor is a Myrmicinae like Messor barbarus with minor- till major-worker with all passings. Great colonies carry their seeds on long "highways" into the nest. They stores the seed in different granaries and create so-called ants bread in "chew-communities" especially for the colder season. They lay out an trash-accumulation. In contrary to other Messor species this species is polygyn i.e. has several Queens.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black
• Size: Queen 14 - 16 mm
• Origin: South France
• Nutrition: Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too
• Temperature: 25 - 30 °C
• Hibernation: Yes (slight)
• Air humidity: Dry climate
• Nest building: Soil nests, loam, pebbles
• Planting: nothing specific
• Class: easy to keep

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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Myrmica rubra

Myrmica rubra is an aggressive red-brown ant species which is distributed throughout Europe. This species favor medium sunny habitates in moist meadows. It is a polygyne species.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Size: Workers: 3,5 - 5 mm, Queen: 6 - 7 mm
• Color: red-brown
• Distribution: Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 25 °C
• Nest building: Soil nests, builds small soil based loose mounds between grass stems, under or in rotten wood, under stones and in moss
• Planting: Grass (optional)
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Workers can sting

Especially suitable for beginners.

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Myrmica sabuleti

Myrmica sabuleti is a red-brown ant species which is distributed throughout Europe. This species can be found in grassland or heathland habitates, avoids high meadows and can not be found in lowland (below 400 m). It is a mostly polygyne species.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Size: Workers: 4 - 5 mm, Queen: 5,5 - 6,5 mm
• Color: red-brown
• Distribution: Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 25 °C
• Nest building: Soil nests, under or in rotten wood, under stones and in moss
• Planting: Grass
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Workers can sting, not as aggressive as Myrmica rubra

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Myrmica scabrinodis

Myrmica scabrinodis is a red-brown ant species which is distributed throughout Europe similar to Myrmica rubra. This species can be found in moist grassland or moors avoids dry habitates.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Size: Workers: 4 - 5 mm, Queen: 5,5 - 6,5 mm
• Color: red-brown
• Distribution: Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 25 °C
• Nest building: Soil nests, under or in rotten wood, under stones and in moss
• Planting: Grass
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Workers can sting, not as aggressive as Myrmica rubra

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Pheidole pallidula

A Pheidole species with soldier caste that is normaly monogyn. Coureageous fighter, who could disperse with soldiers in team-work food-insect and hunt small insects and other animals. The color of this species varies from locality to locality. Mostly brown, also light brown and black, but there are also yellow and red colored variants. Non-temperature-sensitive species that could hibernate in unheated rooms or be well-kept by room temperature.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Pheidolini
• Color: light brown till black
• Size:  Workers: 1.5 - 3 mm, Soldiers: 4 - 5 mm, Queen: 6 - 7 mm
• Distribution: South Europe
• Hibernation: Yes (see description)
• Nestbuilding: Soild nests and under stones
• Nutrition: Omnivore (insects, honeywater, some grains)
• Soild condition: Sand, Loam, Stones
• Difficulty: easy
• Specifics: Beside of the brown till black colored pheidole there are also variants with quince-yellow or myrmica-red color.

The yellow and red colored Pheidole is available for limited period only.

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Plagiolepis sp.

Plagiolepis is one of the smallest European ants species. It can be found in warm and dry habitats.

• Taxonomy: Formicinae
• Distribution: South Europe
• Farbe: shinny brown-black
• Size: 1 - 1.5 mm
• Characteristics: Major- and Minor workers
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals
• Temperatur: hot
• Humidity: dry
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: In soil, under stones
• Soil condition: stony soil

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Polyergus rufescens

Polyergus rufescens are slave-robber ants which are totaly dependent on their helping ants (slaves) like Formica cunicularia, Formica rufibarbis or Formica fusca. They dependent on feed by their helping ants and they don't participate in any nest building activities. They will get active on slaves robbery only where they robber brood of their helping ants. It is a very fortified ants species with large saber shaped mandibles.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae
• Distribution: Europe
• Characteristics: Monomorph
• Color: rot
• Nest-building: Analog to the nest building of the helping ants (sunny, warm places)
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects
• Soil conditions: Stoney, sandy (dry)
• Planting: not necessary
• Level: medium

Important: Please provide only brood of Formica fusca in future. Otherwiese there could be trouble if brood of Formica fuscsa is offered as helper ants.

Note: This colony originates from an non-german ants breeder (certified) and is not taken from nature. This species is endangered in Germany and shouldn't be taken from nature.

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Solenopsis fugax

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Solenopsidini
• Origin: Germany
• Hibernation: Yes
• Characteristics: light polymorph, larger colonies polygyn
• Appearence of the queen: yellow till yellow-brown, very small
• Appearance of the workers: yellow till yellow-brown, very small
• Nest building: soild nests, mostly under stones
• Nutrition: ant brood, insects, nectar
• Temperature: warm and sunny
• Air humidity: dry
• Soil conditions: sand, loam, pebbles
• Planting: not necessary
• Level: for beginners
• Specifics: one of the smallest ants in Germany, anyhow they are a little bit polymorph, very well-fortified because of their "poison-sting". Often nestling between greater ants, like Lasius or Serviformica. They use the brood of these ants for nutrition. Subterranean they infiltrate through very small passages the foreign nest. Could be grown very large, over 100.000 animals (no house-ants).

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Tapinoma ambiguum

This ant species builds small mounds of sand particles, mostly with central hollow. Their movement is very fast. In contrary to Tapinoma erraticum the colony size is smaller and mostly can be found in sandy areas.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Dolichoderinae
• Verbreitung: Southern to Central Europe (warm localities)
• Characteristics: slightly polymorph, larger colonies are polygyn
• Color: shiny black
• Nest building: builds small mounds
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects (also collects other death animals)
• Soil condition: Sand, Stones
• Level: easy

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Tapinoma erraticum

This ant species builds small mounds of soil particles, mostly with central hollow. Their movement is very fast.

• Taxonomy: Subfamily Dolichoderinae
• Verbreitung: Central Europe (warm localities)
• Characteristics: slightly polymorph, larger colonies are polygyn
• Color: shiny black
• Nest building: builds small mounds or will build soil nests (under stones)
• Nutrition: Honeywater, insects (also collects other death animals)
• Climate: moderate climate
• Soil condition: Sand, Loam, Stones
• Level: easy

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Temnothorax cf. affinis

Small red-brown colored Myrmicinae which can be kept in small terrariums. It is also a preferred species for a conjoint with other ants because it is not dominant and avoids any conflicts with other ants.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: red-brown
• Size: 2,8 - 3,5 mm, Queens: 3,5 - 4,7 mm
• Nest size: small (several 100 ants)
• Characteristics: monogyn
• Distribution: Western Europe
• Nutrition: mostly small insects and also honey/sugar water
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: in rotten wood and small branches
• Class: easy

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Temnothorax interruptus

Temnothorax interruptus one of the smallest Temnothorax species suitable for keeping in one companion basin (basin with several species). This species also prefers warm temperatures and inhabits dry habitats. It is a very adept hunter by creeping up on their prey (very often springtails) and jumping at their prey and killing them by sting within seconds.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: yellow-brown
• Size:
• Nest size: small (up to 200 ants)
• Characteristics: monogyn/polygyn
• Distribution: Central Europe
• Nutrition: mostly small insects and also honey/sugar water
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: in moss, roots
• Class: easy
• Specifics: It is a very adept hunter by creeping up on their prey (very often springtails) and jumping at their prey and killing them by sting within seconds.

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Temnothorax nylanderi

Small red-brown colored Myrmicinae which can be kept in small terrariums. It is also a preferred species for a conjoint with other ants because it is not dominant and avoids any conflicts with other ants.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: red-brown
• Size: 2,3 - 3,5 mm, Queens: 3,5 - 4,7 mm
• Nest size: small (several 100 ants)
• Characteristics: monogyn
• Distribution: Western Europe
• Nutrition: mostly small insects and also honey water
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: in rotten wood, small branches or under bark
• Planting: any
• Class: easy

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Temnothorax unifasciatus

Small strange colored Myrmicinae which can be kept in small terrariums. It is also a preferred species for a conjoint with other ants because it is not dominant and avoids any conflicts with other ants.

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: light red-brown with dark striped abdomen
• Nest size: small
• Characteristics: monogyn
• Distribution: Mid- to South Europe
• Nutrition: mostly small insects and also honey water
• Hibernation: Yes
• Nest building: Small hollows (under stones, crevices)
• Planting: any
• Class: easy

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Tetramorium impurum

Tetramorium impurum is an aggressive black brown ant species. This species favor sunny and dry places and loamy ground. It can often be found in cities between pavements. It is a monogyne species which will be suppressed by Tetramorium caespitum in lowland

• Taxonomy: Myrmicinae
• Color: black brown
• Distribution: throughout Europe
• Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water, seeds and death insects
• Hibernation: Yes
• Temperature: 20 - 30 °C
• Nest building: Soil nests, builds small soil based mounds between grass stems or under stones
• Planting: any
• Class: easy
• Specifics: Collects various kind of seeds. Larger colonies are pugnacious

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