⚠️ Solo puedes añadir 1 colonia por pedido u hormiguero.
Recuerda: solo 1 colonia por pedido u hormiguero.
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Messor barbarus, also known as the harvester or seed ant, is an excellent species for beginners. Native to Mediterranean regions, this ant stands out for its ability to store and consume seeds, making it a fascinating choice for those starting in the world of myrmecology. With its easy care and simple diet, this species allows you to observe the natural behaviors of food gathering and colony organization.
Especie Granívora: Las Messor barbarus recolectan y almacenan semillas como alimento principal, lo que facilita su alimentación y reduce la necesidad de proporcionar alimento vivo.
Tamaño: Las obreras tienen un tamaño que varía entre 4 y 15 mm, con diferentes castas visibles en la colonia, desde las obreras pequeñas hasta los "soldados" de mayor tamaño, lo que añade interés visual al hormiguero.
Fácil de Cuidar: Debido a su dieta y a sus menores necesidades de humedad, esta especie es ideal para principiantes y requiere de un mantenimiento simple.
Comportamiento Fascinante: Observa su organización y jerarquía, así como sus habilidades de recolección y almacenamiento, que muestran comportamientos propios de la vida silvestre.
Messor barbarus adapts easily to different types of habitats and nests, making it an excellent species for beginners in ant keeping.
As a granivorous species, it displays fascinating storage and organization behaviors within the nest.
Unlike other species that require more attention to humidity or diet, this one can be fed mainly with dry seeds or our Super Food for Granivorous Ants, reducing the effort needed for care.
This colony allows beginners to get started easily, while experienced keepers can enjoy observing its complex organization and hierarchy.
Diet: Feed your Messor barbarus primarily with seeds (such as canary seed, chia, or flax) or our Super Food for Granivorous Ants. You can also offer an occasional protein source, like live food, especially during growth stages.
Habitat: Place the colony in a suitable nest, preferably with a designated storage area for seeds. Keep the nesting zone slightly humid while maintaining the foraging areas drier, simulating a natural environment.
Temperature & Humidity: The optimal temperature range for this species is 20–28 °C. Maintain relative humidity around 30–50% in foraging areas and 50–90% in the nest.
Hibernation: During winter, Messor barbarus colonies enter a dormancy phase. Lower the temperature to about 15 °C and reduce food supply until this stage passes.
We guarantee the delivery of a healthy colony. If there’s any issue with the colony upon arrival, we’ll provide a replacement.
We care for each colony from the moment the queens raise their first brood, ensuring that every colony is led by a fertile queen ready for steady, healthy growth.
Each colony is regularly inspected and again before every shipment to ensure it is free of mites and parasites. This guarantees that the ants arrive in optimal condition, with no risk of infestation.
We meticulously inspect each colony to ensure the queen is in perfect condition, with no missing or damaged antennae, legs, or body parts. We make sure every ant’s body is complete, delivering colonies in the best possible condition.
To help you care for your Messor barbarus, we provide post-purchase support with tips, guides, and answers to your questions. We’re committed to ensuring you have a positive and successful experience raising your ants.
Messor barbarus are granivorous ants, meaning they feed primarily on seeds. You can offer them small seeds such as canary seed, chia, or flax. Occasionally, it’s helpful to include a protein source, such as live food, to support colony growth and brood development.
For this type of ant, our nests with the HydroX humidity system are ideal. Your colony will feel very comfortable in our Matte White and Matte Gray standard models, as well as in our Natura range. Make sure to keep the nest clean and free of food remains to prevent mold or mite problems.
Messor barbarus prefers a temperature between 20 and 28 °C. Humidity in the nesting area should be maintained around 50–70%, while the foraging area can be kept drier (30–50%). Our HydroX nests ensure proper humidity levels, and you can use a thermometer placed near the nest to monitor temperature accurately.
Every colony we ship is carefully inspected and free of mites and parasites. However, if you find mites in the future, it’s important to isolate the colony and seek advice on cleaning methods or specific products. Contact us for assistance in such cases.
Yes, this species requires a hibernation phase during the winter. You should lower the temperature to around 15 °C and reduce feeding. This resting period is important for the colony’s healthy development and should last 2–3 months.
The colony’s growth depends on factors such as temperature, diet, and environment. Under optimal conditions, the colony will grow steadily, and over time you’ll begin to see new castes (workers and soldiers). It’s a gradual process, so we recommend patience, especially during the first few months.
The need for a larger nest arises when the current one starts to feel cramped, often noticeable through unusual foraging behavior. As the colony grows, it becomes clear that the ants need more space to store seeds and raise new workers. Thanks to our modular system, there’s no need to move them to a new nest—you can expand their space endlessly as the colony develops.
Yes, it’s completely normal for some ants to go through periods of inactivity. Messor barbarus has different castes, and each one fulfills a specific role within the nest. Some may be in “rest mode,” especially when there are no urgent tasks to perform.
No. Ant colonies are territorial and generally do not tolerate the presence of other colonies in the same space. If you wish to keep multiple colonies, make sure each one has its own separate nest.
Very good products and really good support
Llevo pidiendo a AD o al menos siguiéndoles la pista unos dos años y hasta hace nada no tenían hormigas. Sin embargo a diferencia de otras tiendas el envío es espectacular, vienen muy protegidas, en unos tubos de ensayo tuneados con una malla de ventilación (que pienso reutilizar) y una cantidad moderada de agua, que si de mi dependiera ampliaría un poco mas, al menos en colonias que no son muy muy grandes.
Las hormigas de calidad, llegaron hace una semana y estoy muy contento con ellas, muy chulas todas con la cabeza roja. Desde luego algo que merece la pena y donde en otros productos no suelo valorar con 5 estrellas porque siempre hay rango para mejorar en este caso hare una excepción porque podría ser un servicio mediocre como en otras tiendas pero se les trata como lo que son, reinas.
Llegaron en condiciones perfectas. No tuve en cuenta pedir el adaptador para el tubo, necesite tirar de imaginación y al final tuve que hacer un ingreso al hormiguero poco respetuoso.
Una pregunta estás hormigas están permitidas en argentina? Ya que investigue pero no encontré si alguien me saca la duda porfavor 🙏
es muy buena para principiantes
