Messor capitatus
Messor capitatus
- Level: Requiere atención
- Hibernation: Yes (Noviembre-febrero (aprox.))
Requires hibernation — not suitable if you can't lower the temperature in winter.
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 goes above 30 °C. We'll let you know beforehand.
At no extra 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.
- Claim window
- 48 hours from delivery
- Proof required
- Photos or video of the unopened package and its contents as they arrive.
- What's covered
- The queen, always. Workers, if more than 20% arrive dead.
- What we do
- Replacement on the next available shipment or a refund. You choose.
- What voids it
- A package left outside or not collected after the delivery notice.
Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited. In Spain this is a punishable offense under nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations.
Messor capitatus: queen ant
The Messor capitatus queen is a good option for starting a colony from its earliest stages and watching its progress unfold calmly.
- Key traits of Messor capitatus: seed-based diet, calm behavior.
- Lets you follow the early development of Messor capitatus.
- Recommended to prepare hydration, darkness, and a quiet space before she arrives.
- Key material: seeds.
Before you buy: Confirm availability, season, care, and shipping conditions before completing your order.
Species profile
Identificación
- Nombre científico
- Messor capitatus (Latreille, 1798)
- Subfamilia
- Myrmicinae
- Distribución
- Cuenca mediterránea occidental: España, Francia (incl. fachada atlántica hasta el sur de Bretaña), Italia
- Forma de colonia
- Monoginia
Tamaño
- Reina (mm)
- 13.0
- Obrera (mm)
- 4-12 mm (polimórfica)
- Polimorfismo
- Sí
- Casta soldado
- Sí
Condiciones
- Temperatura del nido (°C)
- 22-28 °C (óptimo 25-30 °C)
- Temperatura del área de forrajeo (°C)
- Sin dato verificado específico y diferenciado del nido
- Humedad del nido (%)
- 20-50%, con cámaras húmedas y cámaras secas para almacenar semillas
- Humedad del área de forrajeo (%)
- Sin dato verificado específico
Ciclo
- Hibernación
- Sí
- Ventana de hibernación
- Noviembre-febrero (aprox.)
- Temperatura de hibernación (°C)
- 5-10 °C
- Tipo de fundación
- Claustral
- Época de vuelo nupcial
- Otoño; los sexuados se producen en verano, con enjambrazón masiva en otoño
Desarrollo
- Velocidad de crecimiento
- Lenta
- Tamaño máximo de la colonia
- Hasta unas 50 000 obreras
- Longevidad de la colonia
- Género con reinas potencialmente muy longevas (fuente de aficionados, no paper científico; usar con cautela)
- Dieta
- Semillas, Insectos
Estado legal en España: Nativa
Actual size
- Moneda de 1 €
- 23,25 mm
- Reina
- 13,0 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: you choose.
Can I release the ants into the wild if I give up the hobby?
No. Releasing ants into the wild is prohibited and constitutes a punishable offence under Spanish nature conservation and invasive alien species regulations. Message us and we'll help you find a responsible solution.