Messor structor is a harvester ant from central Europe. Like Messor barbarus it stores seeds, but it needs a real cold hibernation.
Calculate exact amounts for your colony →Based on worker count, brood and temperature. Free, no account.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) | 3 prey items every 4 days | 1 drop (optional) | 0.3 g / week |
| 150 (Growing) | 8 prey items every 7 days | 2 drops (optional) | 0.9 g / week |
| 400 (Established) | 19 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.
November to March, 5–10 °C. Colder than Messor barbarus.
Dandelion, chia, millet, flax, clover, untreated and varied.
Messor structor comes from central Europe and needs a colder hibernation (5–10 °C).
No: without brood seeds are enough. An insect now and then is optional.
Amounts and timings are average guidelines, not rules. Always adjust to what you see in your own colony (leftovers, appetite, brood).