Messor wasmanni

Name: Messor wasmani
Origin: Eastern Mediterranean (including Italy, Adriatic region, Balkans)
Queen: approx. 11 – 15 mm
Workers: approx. 4 – 10 mm, polymorphic with fluid transitions between minor and major workers
Food: seeds (seed harvester), plus carbohydrates and occasionally protein
Humidity:
Seed chambers: dry
Brood area: approx. 50 – 60%
Temperature:
Nest: 24 – 26 degrees
Arena: at least 20 degrees
Winter Dormancy: Yes, at least 3 months
Nest Type: Deep earth nests with plaster, aerated concrete (Ytong) or sand chambers
Colony Size: several thousand workers (monogynous)

Advantages and disadvantages of Messor wasmani:

Advantages:
A robust, low-maintenance seed-harvester species with fascinating behaviour when processing seeds into "ant bread".

Disadvantages:
The founding phase is demanding, and as the colony grows sufficient dry space is also needed for the seed stores.

Care:
A test tube nest at the start, later a dry nest with a seed chamber and a sufficiently large arena.

Feeding:
Seeds as the main food, supplemented with carbohydrates and occasionally protein.

Winter Dormancy:
Requires at least 3 months of winter dormancy.