Nests Structures of Messor arenarius Ants Compared with Nests Structures of Other Harvester Ants

Abstract

Messor arenarius (Fabricius) are harvester ants, which are distributed mainly in deserts or sandy regions in the Middle East and North Africa. Nests structures of M. arenarius ants, are compared here with nests structures of other harvester ants. Nests of harvester ants are combined of corridors, storage rooms, nurseries and also other rooms. In nests of some species of Pogonomyrmex , most of the rooms were found in superficial layers of their nests. However, in nests of M. arenarius ants, most of the rooms, which also include storage rooms as well as nurseries, were found in deeper layers of their nests. That difference is related to differences in the climates between the regions where those ants are found. While Pogonomyrmex badius ants usually inhabit temperate or humid regions, M. arenarius ants inhabit mainly desert regions. Another aspect of nest building in harvester ants, is that although those ants build nests, that are often widespread in the area, those nests can be connected inside the ground, thus forming a “territorial continuum”.