Messor

TaxID: 81628

Basic Information

Messor

Reaper Dart

Messor is a genus of myrmicine 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 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, they emit trail pheromones as well as operating on an individual level when looking for food sources.

from Wikipedia

Taxonomic Information

Eukaryota

Arthropoda

Insecta

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Messor

nan

nan

Photos (5 photos)

Messor
c
(c) Bartosz Fidor@BY-NC
Messor
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(c) Sergio Ibarra@BY-NC
Messor
c
(c) Antonio J. Pizarro Méndez@BY-NC
Messor
c
(c) Julien Piolain@BY-NC
Messor
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(c) Álvaro Alemany@BY-NC-SA

Morphological Features

Worker caste with partial dimorphism: major worker with large head. Mandibles short, thick, and strongly curved.

Source: GBIF Life Stage: Worker Source Type: Taxonomic treatment
Citation:

Plazi taxonomic treatment

Host Plants (0 host plants)

Data sources: EPPO Global Database and relevant literature.

No host plants available.

Quarantine Status (1 records)

Data sources: IPPC website and national quarantine websites; verified by human review.

Country Status Year Added
United States of America Quarantine pests —

Distribution (0 countries)

Data Sources: EPPO Global Database and GBIF.

0
Present
0
Absent
0
Unknown/Other

No distribution records available.

Genomes (0 records)

Data source: NCBI.

No genome records available.

Transcriptomes (1 records)

Data source: NCBI.

Run ID Tissue Developmental Stage Sex Read Count Location Actions
ERR16043880 - - female 62429235 -

DNA Barcodes (890 records)

View all

Data source: BOLD.

Process ID BIN Marker Length Country Date Lat/Lon Sequence
VIB244-20 BOLD:ADM0214 COI-5P 604 Spain 2019-12-28 40.354, -1.121
VIB243-20 BOLD:ADM0214 COI-5P 612 Spain 2019-12-28 40.354, -1.121
VIB152-19 BOLD:AEA9513 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-09-29 40.251637, 18.273554
VIB151-19 BOLD:AEA9513 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-09-29 40.251637, 18.273554
VIB150-19 BOLD:AEA9513 COI-5P 636 Italy 2018-09-28 40.251514, 18.273146
VIB149-19 BOLD:AEA9513 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-09-28 40.251514, 18.273146
VIB098-19 BOLD:AAT9727 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-06-05 44.94, 8.338
VIB097-19 BOLD:AAT9727 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-06-05 44.94, 8.338
VIB096-19 BOLD:AAT9727 COI-5P 658 Italy 2018-06-05 44.94, 8.338
VIB095-19 BOLD:AAT9727 COI-5P 639 Italy 2018-06-05 44.94, 8.338
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Literature