6 replies to this topic

[Max_Connor]

Messor structor or related American species are one of the easiest to keep, but what is the most difficult or maybe annoying part of keeping them? Or maybe there's some nuances about making the colony thrive?

[NPLT]

I'm pretty sure all Messor species are european. As for its closests American cousins ( I.e, species in the Stenammini ), there's Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, Novomessor and Veromessor which I heard are ants for keepers which kept a colony or two successfully. As for keeping Messor, the only two things that can be annoying with them ( at least from hear-say as didn't have the pleasure, or will ever have, of keeping Messor ), that they're very sensitive to vibrations during founding stage, often eating brood, and that they can't be kept in nests from plaster or Ytong as their majors can chew through it.

[Kaelwizard]

If you are thinking of buying Messor in the US, don’t do it. Anyone selling them in the US is most likely doing so illegally. Veromessor is the American version of Messor, so that may be what you are looking for.

Edited by Kaelwizard, July 3 2021 - 7:53 AM.

[Manitobant]

For me it is the slow growth in the beginning. My colony barely grew for over a year and is just now starting to pick up speed.

[Max_Connor]

I'm pretty sure all Messor species are european. As for its closests American cousins ( I.e, species in the Stenammini ), there's Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, Novomessor and Veromessor which I heard are ants for keepers which kept a colony or two successfully. As for keeping Messor, the only two things that can be annoying with them ( at least from hear-say as didn't have the pleasure, or will ever have, of keeping Messor ), that they're very sensitive to vibrations during founding stage, often eating brood, and that they can't be kept in nests from plaster or Ytong as their majors can chew through it.

By related species I meant pogonomyrmex, they're also harvester ants. But thanks for the tips!
I'm not in the US though, I'm in Russia so there's no problem with messors
Also I read some posts about messor and veromessor having relatively dumb behavior, if that's true though

[NPLT]

 

I'm pretty sure all Messor species are european. As for its closests American cousins ( I.e, species in the Stenammini ), there's Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, Novomessor and Veromessor which I heard are ants for keepers which kept a colony or two successfully. As for keeping Messor, the only two things that can be annoying with them ( at least from hear-say as didn't have the pleasure, or will ever have, of keeping Messor ), that they're very sensitive to vibrations during founding stage, often eating brood, and that they can't be kept in nests from plaster or Ytong as their majors can chew through it.

By related species I meant pogonomyrmex, they're also harvester ants. But thanks for the tips!
I'm not in the US though, I'm in Russia so there's no problem with messors
Also I read some posts about messor and veromessor having relatively dumb behavior, if that's true though

 

But Pogonomyrmex is in a completely different tribe of Myrmicinae, they're in Pogonomyrmecini while Messor is in Stenammini. Anyway, if you get a Messor structor or Messor barbarus colony with some workers, they should be barely a problem to keep, one of the easiest ants I heard.

Edited by NPLT, July 4 2021 - 5:21 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

Pogonomyrmex are also harvester ants, but keep in mind they do sting. Thankfully they are terrible climbers.