''Messor'' is a

myrmicine Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of ants with more than 100

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near roadsides, openings are directly to the surface. Colonies can achieve huge sizes and are notable for their intricately designed granaries in which seeds are stored in dry conditions, preventing germination. The structure of ''Messor'' spp. nests is complex and the genus on the whole is one of very accomplished architects. ''Messor'' spp. are polymorphic and have a distinct caste of macrocephalic dinoergates whose role is carrying and cutting the large seeds which comprise much of the colonies' subsistence. Although they primarily feed on seeds, they occasionally eat insects and snails. Some snail shells possibly are taken into the nest because of their grain-like shape. Equipped with a tough, shining cuticle, ''Messor'' spp. are slow-moving and form long, seed-carrying runs. Colonies tend to be monogynous - founded by a single queen alone. Looking specifically at the ''M. arenarius'' species for example, like some other types of

harvester ants Harvester ant, also known as harvesting ant, is a common name for any of the species or genera of ants that collect seeds (called seed predation), or mushrooms as in the case of ''Euprenolepis procera'', which are stored in the nest in commun ...

, they emit trail pheromones as well as operating on an individual level when looking for food sources.

Species

* ''

Messor abdelazizi ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Santschi, 1921 * '' Messor aciculatus'' (Smith, 1874) * '' Messor aegyptiacus'' (Emery, 1878) * '' Messor alexandri'' Tohme, 1981 * ''

Messor andrei ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Mayr, 1886) * '' Messor angularis'' Santschi, 1928 * ''

Messor antennatus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Emery, 1908 * '' Messor aphaenogasteroides'' Pisarski, 1967 * ''

Messor aralocaspius ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Ruzsky, 1902 * '' Messor arenarius'' (Fabricius, 1787) * ''

Messor atanassovii ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Atanassov, 1982 * '' Messor barbarus'' ( Linnaeus, 1767) * ''

Messor beduinus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Emery, 1922 * ''

Messor berbericus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Bernard, 1955 * ''

Messor bernardi ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Cagniant, 1967 * ''

Messor bouvieri ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Bondroit, 1918 * ''

Messor buettikeri ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Collingwood, 1985 * ''

Messor caducus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Victor, 1839) * ''

Messor capensis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Mayr, 1862) * ''

Messor capitatus ''Messor capitatus'' is an ant species part of the genus '' Messor''. This genus includes about 40 specialized species that are found in dry areas of Mediterranean countries such as Africa, Southern Europe, and Asia.''Messor capitatus'' are known ...

'' (Latreille, 1798) * ''

Messor carthaginensis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Bernard, 1980 * ''

Messor caviceps ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Forel, 1902) * ''

Messor celiae ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Reyes, 1985 * '' Messor cephalotes'' (Emery, 1895) * ''

Messor ceresis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near roa ...

'' Santschi, 1934 * '' Messor chamberlini'' Wheeler, 1915 * '' Messor clypeatus'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927 * '' Messor collingwoodi'' Bolton, 1982 * '' Messor concolor'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor decipiens'' Santschi, 1917 * '' Messor dentatus'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor denticornis'' Forel, 1910 * '' Messor denticulatus'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor diabarensis'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor ebeninus'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor excursionis'' Ruzsky, 1905 * '' Messor ferreri'' Collingwood, 1993 * '' Messor foreli'' Santschi, 1923 * ''

Messor fraternus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' Ruzsky, 1905 * ''

Messor galla ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' (Mayr, 1904) * '' Messor hebraeus'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor hellenius'' Agosti & Collingwood, 1987 * '' Messor himalayanus'' (Forel, 1902) * '' Messor hispanicus'' Santschi, 1919 * '' Messor ibericus'' Santschi, 1931 * ''

Messor incisus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' Stitz, 1923 * '' Messor incorruptus'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929 * '' Messor inermis'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929 * ''

Messor instabilis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Smith, 1858) * ''

Messor intermedius ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor julianus'' (Pergande, 1894) * '' Messor kasakorum'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor kisilkumensis'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor lamellicornis'' Arnol'di, 1968 * ''

Messor lariversi ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Smith, 1951) * ''

Messor lobicornis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Forel, 1894 * ''

Messor lobognathus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Andrews, 1916 * '' Messor luebberti'' Forel, 1910 * ''

Messor luridus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor lusitanicus'' Tinaut, 1985 * '' Messor maculifrons'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor marikovskii'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor marocanus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor medioruber'' Santschi, 1910 * '' Messor melancholicus'' Arnol'di, 1977 * ''

Messor minor ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Andre, 1883) * '' Messor nahali'' Tohme, 1981 * '' Messor niloticus'' Santschi, 1938 * '' Messor oertzeni'' Forel, 1910 * '' Messor olegianus'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor orientalis'' (Emery, 1898) * '' Messor perantennatus'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor pergandei ''Veromessor pergandei'' is a species of harvester ant native to the Southwestern United States, especially the deserts of southeastern California. It has also been identified in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. It was first described ...

'' (Mayr, 1886) * ''

Messor piceus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Stitz, 1923 * '' Messor picturatus'' Santschi, 1927 * '' Messor planiceps'' Stitz, 1917 * ''

Messor postpetiolatus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' Santschi, 1917 * ''

Messor regalis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Emery, 1892) * '' Messor reticuliventris'' Karavaiev, 1910 * ''

Messor rufotestaceus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' (Foerster, 1850) * ''

Messor rufus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near roa ...

'' Santschi, 1923 * ''

Messor ruginodis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Stitz, 1916 * '' Messor rugosus'' (Andre, 1881) * '' Messor sanctus'' Emery, 1921 * '' Messor sculpturatus'' Carpenter, 1930 * '' Messor semirufus'' (Andre, 1883) * '' Messor semoni'' (Forel, 1906) * ''

Messor smithi ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' (Cole, 1963) * ''

Messor sordidus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near roa ...

'' (Forel, 1892) * '' Messor stoddardi'' (Emery, 1895) * ''

Messor striatellus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor striaticeps'' (Andre, 1883) * '' Messor striatifrons'' Stitz, 1923 * ''

Messor striativentris ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Emery, 1908 * '' Messor structor'' (Latreille, 1798) * '' Messor subgracilinodis'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor sultanus ''Messor'' is a Myrmicinae, myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields a ...

'' Santschi, 1917 * '' Messor syriacus'' Tohme, 1969 * '' Messor testaceus'' Donisthorpe, 1950 * '' Messor timidus'' (Espadaler, 1997) * ''

Messor tropicorum ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near road ...

'' Wheeler, 1922 * '' Messor turcmenochorassanicus'' Arnol'di, 1977 * ''

Messor valentinae ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor variabilis ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927 * ''

Messor vaucheri ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Emery, 1908 * ''

Messor vicinus ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927 * ''

Messor wasmanni ''Messor'' is a myrmicine genus of ants with more than 100 species, all of which are harvester ants; the generic name comes from the Roman god of crops and harvest, Messor. The subterranean colonies tend to be found in open fields and near ro ...

'' Krausse, 1910 Ant 2007-1

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q311125 Myrmicinae Ant genera