European harvester ant (Messor structor)

Short answers

European harvester ant: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Nest from 15×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm.

European harvester ant: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C, at night room temperature is enough.

European harvester ant: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not required.

European harvester ant: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: queen 10–20 years.

European harvester ant: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C

Night temperature

room temperature is enough

Humidity

nest 50–70 %, foraging area dry at 30–50 %

UVB

Not required

Enclosure

Minimum size

nest from 15×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm

Substrate

An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a dry foraging arena

Feeding

Food

Seeds and grains plus the occasional insect

Feeding interval

seeds always available, insects 1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

worker 4–9 mm, queen 10–12 mm

Life expectancy

queen 10–20 years

Origin

Southern and south-eastern Europe

Protection status

—

Brumation

Yes, mild: December to February at 10–15 °C

Cohabitation

Colony per enclosure. In the wild often polygynous with somewhat blurred colony boundaries (supercolonies); the trade usually offers it as a single monogynous founding colony. These animals naturally live in groups and fare poorly alone. Never combine two colonies - unfamiliar animals are not readily accepted. Watch food and humidity closely once the colony grows.

Notes

It stays smaller than Messor barbarus and is therefore the space-saving option among the seed harvesters.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for European harvester ant (Messor structor) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Harvester ant (Messor barbarus) – Beginner
• Kenyan harvester ant (Messor cephalotes) – Intermediate
• Asian carpenter ant (Camponotus nicobarensis) – Beginner
• Leafcutter ant (Acromyrmex octospinosus) – Experts
• Nylander's acorn ant (Temnothorax nylanderi) – Beginner
• European fire ant (Manica rubida) – Intermediate
• Brown-black carpenter ant (Camponotus ligniperda) – Intermediate
• Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep European harvester ant (Messor structor) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (nest from 15×12 cm plus a foraging area from 30×20 cm), substrate (An aerated-concrete or plaster nest, with a dry foraging arena), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.