Today, completely unexpectedly the order from Antstore turned up, I only ordered them on Friday.  Excellent service once again.  I ordered a colony of Messor Barbarus, a big step for me, considering I know very little about them.  I also ordered another starter kit.  Everything was very well packed again, and I can only say, use them, they are excellent.

The Messors came in the usual test tube, bung of cotton wool at the bottom holding back a sugar water mix (sustanance for the trip).  The end of the tube was bunged with a large cotton wall bung.  This was different to the Myrmica Ruginodis that I ordered, they came with 2 test tubes in a plastic carton.  Not that  I mind, cos it was a darn site easier to empty the test tube into the new farm than having to pluck individual ants from a carton.

Now, a lot of people will place the test tube into a basin and let them do their thing.  Personally, I believe is giving them as little stress a possible, so I prepare basin and the farm in advance, create a small starter tunnel, then tip the whole contents of the test tube into the top of the farm.  This has worked both times for me now.  The MB's have already been digging enlarging the tunnel.  I figure they will explore the rest in good time.  They will also find the seeds, vitamin jelly, and water sponge in their own time as well.  This way i believe they will suffer less stress than having to move into the basin, then move the whole colony again.

Messor Barbarus are absolutely fascinating, and even more lively than the MR's and LN's.  The queen is a site to behold if you have never seen any other type of queen.  We of course are used to seeing Lasius Niger queens (which everyone should have seen at one point as flying ants).  Myrmica Rubra/Ruginodis maybe, I know I have, but a lot of people may not realise that they are seeing MR Queens because of their small size, and because there may be more than one.  The Messor Barbarus Queen is huge by comparison to her workers.  At least 1.5cm long, if not more, and a very shiny black body, almost like a pvc catsuit.

There are three distinct sizes of ant in this colony, worker, soldier (I think), and queen.

I'll keep you posted as usual.

The MR's have continued to expand their nest, there are 3 very large chambers, one of them crambed full with ants and eggs, a nursery.  The previous and first chamber is all but deserted, with only occasional movement.  A new chamber just below the surface appears to be a feeding chamber.  The food is brought from the feeder basin and is brought into this chamber for processing.  Dead flies, just squished are by far their favourite food, along with chopped up mealworms.  Yesterday, I sprayed the inside of the farm area with water mist...it went down a treat, despite them having another source in the feed basin.

My new LN Queen took a little while to settle in, but when she did, she proceeded to dig her self in well and truly.  She is about 3 inches down into the sand, and has completely shut herself in.  I have not seen any eggs yet, but it is just a matter of time...I'll keep you posted...but first...

I have a young friend who I got into antkeeping.  He was very excited when he caught a new LN queen on the same day I did.  I advised him to get a jam jar, fill it with earth, put some air holes in the top, and then put it somewhere dark.  I found out today that he has thrown the whole lot into the garden.  He thought the queen had died because he couldn't find her anymore.  Bless...I didn't want to tell him that she had burried herself in the soil ready to start the new colony!  Note to oneself, always advise people, that the ants WILL bury themselves...lol