Messor angularis
| Latin Name: |  |
Messor angularis |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Pheidolini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(1) easy to keep east african species with higher demands on climate and nutrition |
| Distribution: |  |
East Africa only Kenya and Tanzania |
| Habitat: |  |
Sand and steppe areas, savannas |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogynous |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 11 - 12mm Colour: glossy black, strong bright red head |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 5 - 11mm Colour: glossy black to red,strongly polymorphic |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: 7 - 8mm Colour: black |
| Nutrition |  |
Seeds of various grasses and wild plants but also insects e.g. flies, mosquitoes or small crickets |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 25 - 30°C Nestpart: 22 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Earth nests, partly also in natural cavities |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Arena with two farms/ separate nest areas |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - L |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Digfix, Terra nidum, Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
Steppes or savannas similar with grasses and other plants |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots |
| Description: |  |
Messor angularis is a distinctly granivorous (grain-eating) ant species from East Africa. They cover a large part of their moisture needs through the grains and the rest through insects. Honey water is only accepted when there is a lack of liquid. Since Messor species tend to plunge into open water sources, these should always be covered with small stones or absorbent cotton. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: - founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: several 1000 individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
a mated queen and workers (see selection); brood (varies according to season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Reference |
