Ants reapers
Content
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- Ants reapers
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- Breeding ants
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- Formicarium
The ants reapers (messor structor) are herbivorous insects that feed on grains of cereals and croup that do not cause damage to agriculture. In nature, more than 110 species are known, 5 of them are found on the territory of Russia. Build nests at a great depth - up to 10 m, are active in the dark. Insects are bred at home, creating artificial anthills for them.
Features of the form
Insects have different body color - black, brown, reddish. Body length from 4 to 9 mm maximum. Females are several times larger than males.The workers are somewhat different in structure. In the anthill clear caste division, with a large number of "professions". Babysitters, midwives, transporters, guards, warriors, food getters, warehouse keepers, and so on.
The places inhabited by ants reapers, with a dry climate - Asia, Africa, America, Southern Europe. Residents of desert, semi-desert edges. The steppe ant reaper constructs colonies from 500 individuals to 50,000. It prefers to live near fields with cereals. In search of food sent for 80 m from anthill.
Getting food
For a long time, it was thought that ants anchor patternor are pests of agriculture, because in their anthill were found large stocks of wheat grains, barley, millet, millet. Later it became known what ants eathow to collect the seed.
The peculiarity lies in the fact that the ants reapers collect pips from the ground, without touching the growing ear. Pick up the "harvest" after the activity harmful turtle, mice and other pests.
Interesting!
In the anthill construct numerous chambers for storing grain. For one season can collect up to 50 kg of grains.Eat an insect all this can in one season. In tropical countries, numerous ant stocks are often the subject of controversy. Who owns the found grain - field owners, where is the anthill, or the owner of the land from which the reapers dragged the harvest.
The ant family sends different numbers of messengers to search for food. How much is required depends on the speed of return of the sent family members. If there is a lot of harvest, the ants return quickly, bring large reserves.
In distress in the fields, the ant is absent for a long time; after its return to the fields, fewer individuals are sent. Gradually reducing the number to zero.
Power Features
Unlike other species, the ants reapers feed exclusively on plant food. Even the larvae are fed grain, while representatives of other species require the juice of other insects.
For stocks are monitored very carefully. When grains germinate, starch turns into sugar, which is of particular value to the ant family. Roots, sprouts workers quickly chew off, stocks carefully sorted out. The larvae are fed with ground flour.
Breeding
In young females, males for mating period, wings grow. Mating season flying ants spend in the air. Males die soon, females go deep into the ground, lay eggs. From them, working individuals are born, which are accepted for the arrangement of a new anthill.
Interesting!
One fertilization of the uterus is enough to reproduce the offspring for life. How long the ants reapers live depends on the caste to which they belong. Uterus capable of living for 28 years, individuals working in an anthill - 5 years, working ants - a maximum of 3 years.
Development of larvae
Individual individuals take care of the eggs, transfer them to separate chambers, monitor the observance of favorable conditions. The caste division occurs already during the hatching of the larvae. Which of them will be in society depends on the amount of food consumed.
Larvae are not able to move independently, eat. All this is provided by breadwinners, nurses. The young growth constantly increases in size, pupates after 1-2 months. The pupa does not have a dense shell, you can follow the development of insects.At the last stage begins to move, a full-fledged insect appears.
The content of the anthill at home
Reaper ants take a long time to adapt to new conditions and do not tolerate stressful situations. Care for ants by the reapers is to create a safe, comfortable environment for them.
Small colonies are recommended to keep 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, passages. Insects only remains to settle down.
To feed the reapers need vegetable, protein food. They are given wheat grains, millet, fruits, berries, as well as ready-made special food for ants with protein food.
On a note!
After mating, the female is not always able to reproduce offspring. In 3 out of 10 cases this does not occur. Having survived severe stress, a young individual can eat eggs or larvae after their birth.
Ants reapers - amazing insects that do not harm humanity, on the contrary, benefithelping to keep the fields in good condition.
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