Messor arenarius
Live animal shipping
- Shipped Mondays and Tuesdays
- Includes heat pack and insulated box, at no extra cost
- We hold the shipment if your area drops below 5°C or exceeds 30°C. We'll let you know beforehand.
At no cost. We'll message you before shipping.
Live arrival guarantee
If the colony arrives dead, we'll replace it or refund you. Here are the full terms, right here.
- Plazo para reclamar
- 48 hours from delivery
- Prueba necesaria
- Photos or video of the unopened package and its contents as they arrive.
- Qué cubre
- The queen, always. Workers, if more than 20% arrive dead.
- Qué hacemos
- Replacement on the next available shipment or a refund. You choose.
- Qué la anula
- A package left outside or not picked up after the delivery notice.
Está prohibido liberar hormigas en el medio natural. En España es una infracción sancionable conforme a la normativa de conservación de la naturaleza y de especies exóticas invasoras.
Messor arenarius
Messor arenarius is an interesting species for hobbyists who want to observe different behaviors, castes, and growth rates.
- Highlight features of Messor arenarius: granivorous, marked castes.
- Intended for hobbyists who already have basic care knowledge.
- It is advisable to check humidity, temperature, feeding, and regulations before buying.
Before buying: Review maintenance conditions and applicable regulations, especially for non-native species.
Species profile
Identificación
- Nombre científico
- Messor arenarius (Fabricius, 1787)
- Subfamilia
- Myrmicinae
- Distribución
- Norte de África y Oriente Medio (Sahara, Argelia, Israel); regiones áridas y semiáridas
- Forma de colonia
- Monoginia
Tamaño
- Reina (mm)
- 20.0
- Obrera (mm)
- 5-18 mm (menores 5-8 mm, medianas 8-13 mm, mayores 15-18 mm)
- Polimorfismo
- Sí
- Casta soldado
- Sí
Condiciones
- Temperatura del nido (°C)
- 24-29 °C, punto caliente 28-30 °C
- Temperatura del área de forrajeo (°C)
- Zona seca y bien ventilada
- Humedad del nido (%)
- Moderada en cría, cámaras secas para semillas
- Humedad del área de forrajeo (%)
- Seca
Ciclo
- Hibernación
- No
- Ventana de hibernación
- Sin diapausa fría obligatoria en líneas de origen africano/de Oriente Medio; se admite bajada suave de actividad en invierno
- Temperatura de hibernación (°C)
- 18-22 °C si se reduce la actividad en invierno (no obligatorio)
- Tipo de fundación
- Claustral
- Época de vuelo nupcial
- Sin dato verificado con precisión
Desarrollo
- Velocidad de crecimiento
- Media
- Tamaño máximo de la colonia
- Sin cifra numérica verificada y consistente entre fuentes
- Longevidad de la colonia
- Sin dato verificado
- Dieta
- Semillas, Insectos, Néctar
Estado legal en España: Requiere verificación
Actual size
- Moneda de 1 €
- 23,25 mm
- Reina
- 20,0 mm
Scale comparison. The queen is the largest individual in the colony.
How does the colony travel?
The colony travels in its test tube with a water reservoir, inside an insulated box and with a heat pack when needed. We ship on Mondays and Tuesdays so the package doesn't spend the weekend in a warehouse.
What if it's very cold or very hot?
We hold the shipment while your area is below 5°C or above 30°C, and we'll let you know beforehand. You can also request this yourself by checking "Hold my shipment until the weather is safe" when adding to cart.
What happens if it arrives dead?
Message us within 48 hours of delivery with photos or a video of the unopened package and its contents. We'll replace the colony on the next available shipment or refund you: your choice.
Can I release the ants into the wild if I give up the hobby?
No. Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited and a punishable offense under Spanish regulations on nature conservation and invasive alien species. Message us and we'll help you find a responsible solution.