Messor Capitus - Beginner Species - Medium to Large in Size
 
Quite a nice find in the EU, Found throughout Southern Europe and Norther Africa they are typically all black and have great colony synergy with forraging. Queens are typically larger than Barbarus.
 
They tend to be less skittish and much more hardy to raise. This means they are quite forgiving to the mistakes of many new keepers.
 
Messors will carry the seeds on their own roads back to the colony, sometimes up to 100ft away.
 
This supports the ecosystems around them and enhanses propogation, the process causes seed dispersal and helps airate the soil within their nests. It has been rumoured that a Messor will even plant seeds outside the nest, we dont know if this is for idleness, to germinate them for the soft srout, to hide their nest or to secure future seeds. either way you will be able to draw your own conclusions when you watch them yourself.
 
Harvested seeds are eaten by the ants, using the large Majors jaws to de-shell them. They are then chewed into a protein rich food source known as "ant-bread". It is this antbread these ants get 90% of their nutrients and almost all of their water from.
 
In the wild, nests are often found amongst low lying shrubs and ground dwelling plants typically associated with Olive groves and land unhindered by humans, wherever there are plants which seed, Messors will be somewhere nearby.
 
Colony Size
Excess of 10,000 workers
Slow growth until 30 to 50 workers, colony will grow rapidly with the first Majors.
Queen Age
Up to 15 years
Temperature & Humidity
22 to 25 degrees nest | 23 to 27 outworld
50% to 70% Nest (Lower for seed store) | 30% to 50% outworld
Hibernation
Yes - November to Feb
Polymorphic (Different size casts)
Yes
Sting
No
Bite
Yes
Diet
Seeds, Nuts, Grains, Occasional Sugar, Occasional extra protein.
Nest Type
Natural, Acrylic, Sand, Earth, Glass
Size
Queen - 15mm-16mm
Worker - 3mm-14mm
Polymorphic - Yes, Majors can be almost as big as the Queen