Reaper ants

Reaper ants (messor structor) - herbivorous insects that feed on grains of cereals, cereals, which do not harm agriculture. In nature, more than 110 species are known, 5 of them are found in Russia. They build nests at great depths - up to 10 m, are active in the dark. Insects are bred at home, creating artificial anthills for them.

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Insects have different body colors - black, brown, reddish. Body length from 4 to 9 mm maximum. Females are several times larger than males. Working individuals are somewhat different in structure. In the anthill is clear caste division, with a lot of "professions." Nannies, midwives, transporters, security guards, warriors, food earners, warehouse keepers and so on.

Places where ants reapers live, with an arid climate - Asia, Africa, America, Southern Europe. Residents of desert, semi-desert regions. The reaper steppe ant builds colonies from 500 individuals to 50,000. He prefers to live near fields with cereal crops. Searches for food 80 m away from anthill.

Food

For a long time it was believed that the ancestors of the messenger structure were pests of agriculture, since large reserves of grains of wheat, barley, millet, and millet were found in their anthill. Later, it became known what do ants eathow to collect the seed.

The peculiarity is that the reaper ants collect grains from the ground, without touching the growing spike. Pick up the "crop" after the activity harmful turtles, mice and other pests.

Interesting!

Numerous chambers for storing grain are being built in the anthill. In one season, they can collect up to 50 kg of grains. All this can be eaten by an insect in one season. In tropical countries, numerous ant stocks are often the subject of controversy. Who owns the found grain - the owners of the field, where is the anthillor to the owner of the land from where the reapers dragged the crop.

The family of ants sends a different number of messengers to search for food. How many are required depends on the speed of return of sent family members. If there is a lot of harvest, the ants return quickly, bringing large reserves.

In distress in the fields, the ant is absent for a long time; after its return, fewer individuals are sent to the fisheries. Gradually reducing the number to zero.

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Unlike other species, the ants reapers feed exclusively on plant foods. Even the larvae are fed grain, while representatives of other species require the juices of other insects.

Stocks are monitored very carefully. During the germination of grains, starch turns into sugar, which is of particular value to the ant family. Roots, sprouts workers quickly bite off, stocks are carefully sorted. Larvae are fed with ground flour.

Breeding

In young females, males, wings grow during the mating period. Mating season flying ants spend in the air. Males soon die, females go deep into the ground, lay eggs. Of these, working individuals are born, which are accepted for arranging a new anthill.

Interesting!

Fertilization of the uterus alone is enough to reproduce offspring throughout life. How many ants reapers live depends on the caste to which they belong. Uterus able to live 28 years, individuals working in the anthill - 5 years, working ants - maximum 3 years.

Larval development

The eggs are cared for by individual individuals, move them to separate chambers, monitor compliance with favorable conditions. The division into castes occurs already during the hatching of the larvae. Which one of them will be who in society depends on the amount of food consumed.

Larvae are not able to independently move, eat. All this is provided by breadwinners, nurses. Young growth is constantly increasing in size, pupates after 1-2 months. The pupa does not have a dense shell; one can trace the development of insects. At the last stage, it begins to move, a full-fledged insect appears.

The content of the anthill at home

Reaper ants for a long time adapt to new conditions, poorly tolerate stressful situations. Caring for ants with reapers is to create a safe, comfortable environment for them.

Small colonies are recommended to be kept in glass incubators. It is recommended to plant new colonies when 30 working individuals are born. You can use special anthills with ready-made cameras, moves. Insects only have to settle down.

Reapers need plant-based, protein-rich foods to feed them. They are given wheat grains, millet, fruits, berries, as well as ready-made special feeds for ants with protein foods.

On a note!

After mating, the female is not always able to reproduce offspring. In 3 out of 10 cases this does not happen. A young individual, having experienced severe stress, can eat eggs or larvae after they are born.

Reaper ants are amazing insects that do not harm humanity, on the contrary, benefithelping to maintain the fields in good condition.