Messor Cephalotes
The largest harvester ant in the world
UK SHIPPING ONLY (We do not ship this species overseas)
A dream species.
Right at the top of most bucket list species is the rare and illusive Messor cephalates. They are impressively large and grow trail foraging colonies that will keep you in amazement and delight.
Primarily found in easter African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, cephalotes prefer sparse landscape and build big nests in clay rich African soil. Like other Messor they make mounds of excavated earth and seed casings. Except with the worlds largest you can expect a wild nest to be as large as 5 meters.
This species like others feed primarily on seeds, majors crush them and ant-bread is made. In cephalotes case a 70% seed and 30% protein diet is advised.
Queen
Age - Unknown
Fully claustral - no food needed until first workers
Colony – 10,000+
Temperature & Humidity
Nest 24-25 Degrees | Outworld 21 to 29 Degrees
Nest 60% to 70%
Diapause None
Polymorphic (Yes)
Queen - 20mm to 24mm
Minor – 3.5mm to 6mm
Media - 7mm to 11mm
Major - 12mm to 18mm
Bite
Absolutely
Diet
Insects and seed, sugar can be offered but the colony will only really consume when dehydrated.
Nest Type
Natural, Acrylic, Glass
Messor Cephalotes
It is illegal to release this colony into the wild in the UK, if you can no longer care for your colony please contact us immediately.
