Messor asmaae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Medium
• Origin & Habitat: Oman, Jebel Akhdar mountains at approximately 1949m elevation. Found nesting under stones in moist, organic-rich soil near date palm trees and cultivated rose plantations ^[2].
• Colony Type: Monogyne, single queen colonies. Colony type is inferred from typical Messor genus patterns since specific colony structure studies are not available for this species.
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, not yet described in scientific literature
  • Worker: 4.4-5.3mm ^[2]
  • Colony: Unknown, no colony size data available for this species
  • Growth: Moderate, inferred from typical Messor genus patterns
  • Development: Estimated 6-10 weeks based on related Messor species development patterns (Direct development data not available for this species. Estimates based on genus-level patterns for harvester ants.)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Keep at 22-26°C. The mountainous origin suggests they can tolerate cooler temperatures than typical lowland desert species. Provide a gentle temperature gradient allowing workers to self-regulate.
  • Humidity: Moderate, they naturally nest in moist soil under stones. Keep substrate consistently damp but not waterlogged. Allow some drying between waterings.
  • Diapause: Likely required, as an Omani species from high elevation, they probably experience cooler winters and would benefit from a winter rest period around 15-18°C for 2-3 months.
  • Nesting: Natural nesting: soil under stones. Captive recommendations: Y-tong nests or plaster nests work well. Provide a moisture chamber and keep substrate consistently moist. They do well in naturalistic setups with a layer of soil substrate.
• Behavior: Harvester ants that actively collect and store seeds. Workers are moderately sized and good foragers. They are not particularly aggressive but will defend their nest. Escape risk is moderate, use standard barrier methods. As seed-eaters, they are diurnal and active during daylight hours.
• Common Issues: seed storage can mold if humidity is too high, balance moisture carefully, colonies may be slow to establish initially as they adapt to captive conditions, limited availability since this is a newly described and rare species in the hobby, winter dormancy requirements are not fully understood, monitor colony response carefully

Housing and Nest Setup

Messorasmaae does well in Y-tong nests or plaster formicariums that can hold moisture. Since they naturally nest under stones in moist soil, provide a hydration setup that keeps the nesting area damp without becoming waterlogged. A water tower or glass fiber filter system works well for controlled moisture. For the outworld, include a sand or soil layer so workers can forage naturally. These ants are moderate in size at around 5mm, so standard formicarium chambers work well. Ensure escape prevention is adequate, while not tiny, they can squeeze through small gaps. ^[2]

Feeding and Diet

As harvester ants in the tribe Attini, Messorasmaae primarily collects and consumes seeds. Offer a variety of small seeds suitable for their size, grass seeds, millet, and bird seed mixes work well. They also need protein sources like small insects (fruit flies, small mealworms, crickets) and will accept sugar water or honey as an energy source. Provide a constant sugar water station and offer protein prey 2-3 times per week. Seeds should always be available in the foraging area. Remove any uneaten seeds that show signs of mold.

Temperature and Seasonal Care

Maintain temperatures between 22-26°C during the active season. The mountainous origin of this species (Jebel Akhdar at nearly 2000m elevation) suggests they can tolerate cooler conditions than typical desert ants. During winter, provide a cooler period around 15-18°C for 2-3 months to simulate their natural seasonal cycle. This winter rest helps trigger reproductive behavior in spring. Avoid keeping them constantly warm year-round as this can stress the colony. ^[2]

Colony Development

Messorasmaae is a recently described species (2018) with limited captive breeding data. Based on typical Messor genus patterns, founding queens are claustral, they seal themselves in a chamber and raise the first brood alone without foraging. Expect 6-10 weeks from egg to first worker (nanitics) at optimal temperature. Initial colony growth is typically slow as the queen can only lay a limited number of eggs while caring for the first brood alone. Once workers emerge, growth accelerates as foragers can bring in more food. Be patient during the founding phase, disturbing the nest can cause the queen to abandon or eat the brood. ^[1]

Behavior and Temperament

These are typical harvester ants with an active foraging style. Workers search for seeds and small insects across the foraging area and store seeds in the nest. They are not particularly aggressive toward keepers but will defend the nest if threatened. Workers are moderately sized and visible, making them enjoyable to watch. They are diurnal and most active during daylight hours. Provide a deep enough substrate in the foraging area to allow natural seed-harvesting behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

Report an Issue

The current care sheet is based fully on literature. See inconsistencies, or something that's incorrect? Please report here, it will be resolved after review from an admin. Contributing to the blogs tab also helps providing information, to make us be able to further improve the caresheets. Thank you for your support!

References