''Messor'' is a myrmicine

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,0 ...

s with more than 100

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...

, all of which are

harvester ant 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 ...

s; 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 A granary is a storehouse or room in a barn for threshed grain or animal feed. Ancient or primitive granaries are most often made of pottery. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animal ...

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

Species

* '' Messor abdelazizi'' Santschi, 1921 * ''

Messor aciculatus ''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 ...

'' (Smith, 1874) * ''

Messor aegyptiacus ''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, 1878) * ''

Messor alexandri ''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 ...

'' Tohme, 1981 * '' Messor andrei'' (Mayr, 1886) * ''

Messor angularis ''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, 1928 * '' Messor antennatus'' Emery, 1908 * ''

Messor aphaenogasteroides ''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 ...

'' Pisarski, 1967 * '' Messor aralocaspius'' Ruzsky, 1902 * ''

Messor arenarius ''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 ...

'' (Fabricius, 1787) * '' Messor atanassovii'' Atanassov, 1982 * ''

Messor barbarus ''Messor barbarus'' is a species of harvester ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is found In Southern Europe and Northern Africa. Interaction with Humans Messor barbarus causes 50–100% of the seed losses and is the most common ant in arable ...

'' (

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, t ...

, 1767) * '' Messor beduinus'' Emery, 1922 * '' Messor berbericus'' Bernard, 1955 * '' Messor bernardi'' Cagniant, 1967 * '' Messor bouvieri'' Bondroit, 1918 * '' Messor buettikeri'' Collingwood, 1985 * '' Messor caducus'' (Victor, 1839) * '' Messor capensis'' (Mayr, 1862) * '' Messor capitatus'' (Latreille, 1798) * '' Messor carthaginensis'' Bernard, 1980 * '' Messor caviceps'' (Forel, 1902) * '' Messor celiae'' Reyes, 1985 * ''

Messor cephalotes ''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, 1895) * '' Messor ceresis'' Santschi, 1934 * ''

Messor chamberlini ''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 ...

'' Wheeler, 1915 * ''

Messor clypeatus ''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 collingwoodi ''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 ...

'' Bolton, 1982 * ''

Messor concolor ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor decipiens ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1917 * ''

Messor dentatus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor denticornis ''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 ...

'' Forel, 1910 * ''

Messor denticulatus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor diabarensis ''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 ebeninus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor excursionis ''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 ...

'' Ruzsky, 1905 * ''

Messor ferreri ''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 ...

'' Collingwood, 1993 * ''

Messor foreli ''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, 1923 * '' Messor fraternus'' Ruzsky, 1905 * '' Messor galla'' (Mayr, 1904) * ''

Messor hebraeus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor hellenius ''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 ...

'' Agosti & Collingwood, 1987 * ''

Messor himalayanus ''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 ...

'' (Forel, 1902) * ''

Messor hispanicus ''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, 1919 * ''

Messor ibericus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1931 * '' Messor incisus'' Stitz, 1923 * ''

Messor incorruptus ''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 ...

'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929 * ''

Messor inermis ''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, 1929 * '' Messor instabilis'' (Smith, 1858) * '' Messor intermedius'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor julianus ''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 ...

'' (Pergande, 1894) * ''

Messor kasakorum ''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 kisilkumensis ''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 ...

'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor lamellicornis ''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 ...

'' Arnol'di, 1968 * '' Messor lariversi'' (Smith, 1951) * '' Messor lobicornis'' 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'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor lusitanicus ''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 ...

'' Tinaut, 1985 * ''

Messor maculifrons ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor marikovskii ''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 marocanus'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor medioruber ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1910 * ''

Messor melancholicus ''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, 1977 * '' Messor minor'' (Andre, 1883) * ''

Messor nahali ''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 ...

'' Tohme, 1981 * ''

Messor niloticus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1938 * ''

Messor oertzeni ''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 ...

'' Forel, 1910 * ''

Messor olegianus ''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 orientalis ''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, 1898) * ''

Messor perantennatus ''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 ...

'' 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 by ...

'' (Mayr, 1886) * '' Messor piceus'' Stitz, 1923 * ''

Messor picturatus ''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 ...

'' Santschi, 1927 * ''

Messor planiceps ''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 ...

'' Stitz, 1917 * '' Messor postpetiolatus'' Santschi, 1917 * '' Messor regalis'' (Emery, 1892) * ''

Messor reticuliventris ''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 ...

'' Karavaiev, 1910 * '' Messor rufotestaceus'' (Foerster, 1850) * '' Messor rufus'' Santschi, 1923 * '' Messor ruginodis'' Stitz, 1916 * ''

Messor rugosus ''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 ...

'' (Andre, 1881) * ''

Messor sanctus ''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, 1921 * ''

Messor sculpturatus ''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 ...

'' Carpenter, 1930 * ''

Messor semirufus ''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 ...

'' (Andre, 1883) * ''

Messor semoni ''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 ...

'' (Forel, 1906) * '' Messor smithi'' (Cole, 1963) * '' Messor sordidus'' (Forel, 1892) * ''

Messor stoddardi ''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, 1895) * '' Messor striatellus'' Arnol'di, 1969 * ''

Messor striaticeps ''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 ...

'' (Andre, 1883) * ''

Messor striatifrons ''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 ...

'' Stitz, 1923 * '' Messor striativentris'' Emery, 1908 * ''

Messor structor ''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 ...

'' (Latreille, 1798) * ''

Messor subgracilinodis ''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 ...

'' Arnol'di, 1969 * '' Messor sultanus'' Santschi, 1917 * ''

Messor syriacus ''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 ...

'' Tohme, 1969 * ''

Messor testaceus ''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 ...

'' Donisthorpe, 1950 * ''

Messor timidus ''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 ...

'' (Espadaler, 1997) * '' Messor tropicorum'' 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