How to feed Messor barbarus

Messor barbarus is a harvester ant: it collects seeds and stores them in granaries. Its diet is very different from most other species.

Calculate exact amounts for your colony →Based on worker count, brood and temperature. Free, no account.

What does Messor barbarus eat?

• Seeds (main diet): dandelion, chia, millet, flax, daisy, clover. Vary the seeds and never let the seed chamber run empty.
• Protein: a few insects (crickets, superworms) once a week is enough, a bit more in spring when there is lots of brood.
• Sugar: not very useful; a little sugar water now and then is enough.

How much to feed

Guidelines for a colony with a moderate amount of brood, at 22–28 °C (72–82 °F):

WORKERS	PROTEIN	SUGAR / 3–4 DAYS	SEEDS
10 (Nanitics)	1 prey item every 5 days	1 drop (optional)	0.1 g / week
50 (Small)	2 prey items every 4 days	1 drop (optional)	0.3 g / week
150 (Growing)	7 prey items every 7 days	2 drops (optional)	0.9 g / week
400 (Established)	17 prey items every 7 days	4 drops (optional)	2.4 g / week

1 prey item = one insect the size of a fruit fly (2–3 mm). A medium cricket (1 cm) is worth about 50 prey items. 1 drop ≈ 0.05 mL. Seeds: 1 g ≈ 170 millet seeds ≈ 750 chia seeds; 1 teaspoon ≈ 4 g.

These are starting points. If food is left after 24 h, give less; if everything disappears fast and the brood grows, give more. The calculator also adjusts for brood and temperature.

Hibernation

Light diapause of 6 to 8 weeks, between December and February, at 8–12 °C (46–54 °F). Lower the temperature gradually and keep the seeds dry.

Common mistakes

• Giving treated or coated seeds (garden-centre seeds): they are toxic.
• Forgetting humidity: seeds must be stored dry, but the nest must not dry out.
• Thinking it needs no protein: without insects, the brood develops poorly.

FAQ

Open the calculator for Messor barbarus →Feeding log, journal, growth chart and forecast, shopping list.