Harvest ants

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Ants of the genus Messor bring grains into their burrows

Under the concept harvester ants fall species from the family of ants (Formicidae), mainly from seeds of various plants feed ( Granivorie ). Harvest ants can build underground pantries so that they can survive a period of drought or frost . They use a special secretion to prevent the seeds from germinating so that harvest ants do not make a decisive contribution to the spread of the affected plants , even if they sometimes lose some seeds.

Ants, which are partly responsible for the spread of myrmekochoren plants, are not called "harvest ants ".

Harvest ants occur in different subfamilies and genera , well-known representatives can be found in the following genera:

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