# Messor Harvester Ants (*Messor*)

Messor Harvester Ants are busy little insects that gather seeds to eat. They work together in big groups to find food and build their homes underground.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Messor Harvester Ants](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Messor_barbarus_princess.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Álvaro Rodríguez, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Messor_barbarus_princess.jpg)

## Appearance

The Messor Harvester Ants has a robust, dark-colored body, typically reddish-brown to black, with a noticeably large head and strong mandibles. Their bodies are segment-like and often feature a slightly glossy sheen, distinguishing them from other ants by their powerful build.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Formicidae
- **Genus:** Messor

## Interesting facts

- A single colony can collect millions of seeds in a year!
- If their stored seeds get wet, they dry them in the sun before storing again!
- Some Messor ant queens can live over a decade, much longer than other ants!
- They can tell their nestmates where to find the best food patches.

## Special abilities

- **Seed Powerhouse:** Messor Harvester Ants can efficiently collect and process seeds because of their strong mandibles that help them grind tough seed husks into 'ant bread'.
- **Underground Granary Architect:** Messor Harvester Ants has specialized underground chambers that helps them store vast quantities of seeds, protecting their food supply from moisture and pests.
- **Nature's Gardener:** Messor Harvester Ants can spread plant seeds to new locations because they drop uneaten parts, helping plants germinate and grow in new areas.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 3-12 mm
- **Lifespan:** 60-90 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 5000-20000

## Diet & Feeding

These ants mostly eat seeds, but also enjoy small insects when they find them.

- **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Wildflower seeds, Small dead insects, Fungi
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Relies on ants to carry and plant its seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Raven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-raven) (*Corvus corax*) — Feeds on ant colonies, including Messor species.
- **Eaten by:** [Central Bearded Dragon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/central-bearded-dragon) (*Pogona vitticeps*) — Eats various insects, including Messor ants.
- **Eats:** Durum Wheat (*Triticum durum*) — Collects and consumes the seeds of this plant.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful not to disturb ant nests, as they can bite if they feel threatened.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Messor Harvester Ants?

Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Messor Harvester Ants?

3-12 mm

### How long does Messor Harvester Ants live?

60-90 days

### What does Messor Harvester Ants eat?

These ants mostly eat seeds, but also enjoy small insects when they find them.

### Where is Messor Harvester Ants usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Messor Harvester Ants hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Messor Harvester Ants have?

6

### How large are Messor Harvester Ants colonies?

5000-20000

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Messor Harvester Ants: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/messor-harvester-ants)