%0 Journal Article
%T Nests Structures of <i>Messor</i> <i>arenarius</i> Ants Compared with Nests Structures of Other Harvester Ants
%A Ittai Warburg
%J Open Journal of Ecology
%P 260-267
%@ 2162-1993
%D 2025
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/oje.2025.153015
%X <i>Messor</i> <i>arenarius</i> (Fabricius) are harvester ants, which are distributed mainly in deserts or sandy regions in the Middle East and North Africa. Nests structures of <i>M. </i><i>arenarius</i> 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 <i>Pogonomyrmex</i>, most of the rooms were found in superficial layers of their nests. However, in nests of <i>M. </i><i>arenarius</i> 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 <i>Pogonomyrmex</i> <i>badius</i> ants usually inhabit temperate or humid regions, <i>M. </i><i>arenarius</i> 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 &#8220;territorial continuum&#8221;.
%K Ants
%K Deserts
%K <i>Messor</i>
%K Micro-Climate
%K Micro-Habitats
%K Nest Structure
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=141376