Harvester ants Messor barbarus, we feed the seed of your curiosity!

Welcome to the wonderful world of ants!
I am happy that you are here, feeding the seed of your curiosity;)
Do you want to know more? https://bit.ly/3VYOAzE

You know them, but probably not under this name. They are better known as Harvester ants.

In Southern Europe and Northern Africa, the Messor barbarus ants nest directly in the ground. Their anthills are often found under rocks, in sandy areas, or among shrubs.

For instance, did you know that Messor barbarus ants are expert seed harvesters?
They collect seeds and store them in their nests, creating granaries. These seeds are then chewed and turned into a substance known as ‘ant bread,’ which the colony consumes. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by aiding in seed dispersal and soil aeration.


If you’re curious about other aspects of Messor barbarus ants, feel free to ask, and I’ll be happy to share more information!

Terminology related to Messor barbarus:

Monogyne: A colony with a single queen.
Polymorphic: Workers of different sizes within the same colony.
Granaries: Chambers within the nest where seeds are stored.
Foraging trails: Paths used by ants to collect and transport seeds.
Myrmecochory is the dispersal of seeds by ants.

I hope you find this information About Messor barbarus quite usuful.

SOURCES:
In english:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140...

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/12/...

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/1/45

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16140...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/D...

https://link.springer.com/article/10....

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...


In french:
http://www.cataglyphis.fr/Actes-SF-UI...

https://www.univ-montp3.fr/fr/culture...

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