[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":364},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fes\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus":3},{"species":4,"profile":235,"countryNames":274,"lookalikes":287,"similar":294,"comparisons":335,"posts":342},{"id":5,"authority":6,"colonyStructure":7,"confidence":8,"countries":11,"defense":24,"diet":26,"difficulty":30,"dryHumidity":31,"escapeRisk":10,"estimated":34,"experience":42,"extension":43,"finder":44,"founding":45,"growth":46,"guide":47,"hibernation":48,"hibernationMonths":49,"hibernationTemperature":51,"humidity":54,"image":57,"imageCredit":58,"imageHeight":62,"imageWidth":63,"interests":47,"keptSince":47,"legal":64,"lookalikes":67,"majorSize":52,"maxWorkers":71,"meta":72,"nests":73,"nuptialFlightMonths":77,"nuptialFlightTime":47,"nuptialFlightTriggers":47,"polymorphism":80,"queenSize":81,"regions":83,"relatedPosts":85,"reviewedAt":66,"scientificName":89,"sources":90,"stem":221,"subfamily":222,"temperature":223,"tribe":226,"workerSize":227,"__hash__":229,"slug":230,"genus":231,"nickname":232,"aliases":233,"tagline":234},"species\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus.yml","Santschi, 1925","facultative",{"biology":9,"husbandry":9,"nuptialFlight":10},"medium","low",[12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23],"ES","PT","FR","IT","MT","CH","DE","SI","HR","RO","BG","GR",[25],"bite",[27,28,29],"seeds","insects","sugar",2,[32,33],30,50,[35,36,37,38,39,40,41],"temperature","humidity","hibernationTemperature","nuptialFlightMonths","workerSize","queenSize","maxWorkers","compiled","yml",false,"claustral","fast",null,"recommended",[50,30],11,[52,53],10,15,[55,56],40,60,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus\u002Fmessor-ibericus.jpg",{"author":59,"license":60,"url":61},"Jonghyun Park (clurarit)","CC BY 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations\u002F242538913",800,1200,{"status":65,"checked":66},"free","2026-10-26",[68,69,70],"Messor structor","Messor capitatus","Messor wasmanni",3500,{},[74,75,76],"ytong","sandwich","acrylic",[78,79],4,6,"polymorphic",[82,52],9,[84],"europe",[86,87,88],"how-to-make-a-ytong-nest","how-to-care-for-messor-barbarus","how-to-hibernate-your-ants","Messor ibericus",[91,97,101,106,113,118,122,126,130,134,138,142,146,150,154,158,163,167,171,175,179,183,188,192,196,200,205,209,213,217],{"type":92,"title":93,"url":94,"covers":95},"reference","AntCat: Messor ibericus Santschi, 1925, valid species (protonym Messor structor var. ibericus, lectotype from Gavà, Catalonia, designated by Steiner et al. 2018, with Messor structor novaki Finzi, 1929 from Dalmatia as a junior synonym)","https:\u002F\u002Fantcat.org\u002Fcatalog\u002F440092",[96],"taxonomy",{"type":92,"title":98,"url":99,"covers":100},"Catalogue of Life: Messor ibericus Santschi, 1925 (AntCat classification: Myrmicinae, Stenammini)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.catalogueoflife.org\u002Fdata\u002Ftaxon\u002F42824",[96],{"type":102,"title":103,"url":104,"covers":105},"paper","Steiner et al. (2018), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: Turning one into five, integrative taxonomy uncovers complex evolution of cryptic species in the harvester ant Messor structor (M. ibericus redescribed as one of the five species once lumped under structor)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1016\u002Fj.ympev.2018.04.005",[96],{"type":102,"title":107,"url":108,"covers":109},"Juvé et al. (2025), Nature 646: One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants (all workers are first-generation hybrids with M. structor fathers, queens clone M. structor males from stored sperm, hybrid workers in 69 Mediterranean populations without M. structor and in Sicily over 1000 km from it, 65 laboratory colonies kept in a room at 25 °C and 40% humidity and fed grass seeds)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1038\u002Fs41586-025-09425-w",[96,110,111,112],"biology","distribution","husbandry",{"type":102,"title":114,"url":115,"covers":116},"Schlick-Steiner et al. (2006), European Journal of Entomology 103: More than one species of Messor harvester ants in Central Europe (the German populations near Mainz, now assigned to M. ibericus, are reported after Heller 1971 to swarm and keep their colonies strictly separate, unlike the Lower Austrian ones)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eje.cz\u002Fpdfs\u002Feje\u002F2006\u002F02\u002F25.pdf",[110,111,117],"nuptialFlight",{"type":102,"title":119,"url":120,"covers":121},"Lapeva-Gjonova, Gjonov, Kostova and Mifsud (2025), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: Vibroacoustic signalling of the Maltese Messor ants, with geographical insights into M. ibericus (range from Spain to Greece and Bulgaria, from Germany at 50° N to Crete and Malta, nests under stones, more typical of lower altitudes than M. structor, workers and queens active at night on Gozo)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.3897\u002Fjhr.98.170415",[96,110,111],{"type":102,"title":123,"url":124,"covers":125},"Giannetti, Schifani and Grasso (2025), Current Zoology 71: An adhesive drone trap to study the flight altitude preferences of winged ants (Messor ibericus nuptial flights on 9 May 2022 and 30 April 2023 between 11:00 and 14:00 at 24 to 25 °C, queens and males caught 60 to 75 m up)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1093\u002Fcz\u002Fzoaf002",[117],{"type":102,"title":127,"url":128,"covers":129},"Lebas (2021), Osmia 9: Influence des activités humaines sur la répartition des fourmis du genre Messor dans les Pyrénées-Orientales (M. ibericus in gorse scrub, roadsides, banks, vineyards and gardens, largest populations along irrigation ditches, an almost strictly Mediterranean range with a pocket in Germany)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.47446\u002FOSMIA9.9",[110,111],{"type":102,"title":131,"url":132,"covers":133},"Lapeva-Gjonova and Antonova (2022), Biodiversity Data Journal 10: An updated checklist of ants of Bulgaria, after 130 years of research (M. ibericus recorded for Bulgaria by Steiner et al. 2018)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.3897\u002FBDJ.10.e95599",[111],{"type":102,"title":135,"url":136,"covers":137},"Lapeva-Gjonova et al. (2025), Biodiversity Data Journal 13: DNA barcoding of Messor ants of Bulgaria (the COI barcode separates M. ibericus, whose workers are hybrids with M. structor)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.3897\u002Fbdj.13.e168586",[96,111],{"type":92,"title":139,"url":140,"covers":141},"AntWiki: Messor ibericus (told from M. structor and M. muticus by the short first funicular segment and the scape base without a lobe, the smallest queens of the complex, the most common structor-group species in Greece, open habitats, country list, swarming and separate colonies near Mainz)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antwiki.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMessor_ibericus",[96,110,111],{"type":92,"title":143,"url":144,"covers":145},"GBIF: Messor ibericus, occurrence records by country (Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Portugal) and the English name Iberian harvester ant from the Catalogue of Life","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gbif.org\u002Fspecies\u002F1316409",[96,111],{"type":92,"title":147,"url":148,"covers":149},"Wikipedia: Messor ibericus (Iberian harvester ant, xenoparity)","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMessor_ibericus",[96,110],{"type":92,"title":151,"url":152,"covers":153},"Wikipedia (Spanish): Messor ibericus, hormiga cosechadora ibérica (warm, open and dry habitats such as scrub, grassland, roadsides, open pine woods and olive groves)","https:\u002F\u002Fes.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMessor_ibericus",[96,110,111],{"type":92,"title":155,"url":156,"covers":157},"iNaturalist: Messor ibericus observations annotated as male (only ten records, several not yet verified, in March and April and again from September to November)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations?taxon_id=840243&term_id=9&term_value_id=11",[117],{"type":159,"title":160,"url":161,"covers":162},"careSheet","Ameisenforum.de: Steckbrief Messor ibericus, früher Messor structor (sizes, mostly polygyne colonies that spread by budding, Ytong nest with a damp area and larger dry areas, winter rest from late October to March in Central Europe)","https:\u002F\u002Fameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=31069",[112,110,111,117],{"type":159,"title":164,"url":165,"covers":166},"formicarium.it: Scheda di allevamento di Messor structor (Italian populations, which recent studies assign to M. ibericus: polygynous colonies, no true nuptial flight, budding, nest at 22 to 28 °C, optional winter rest at 5 to 15 °C, plaster, Ytong or soil sandwich nests, digging into damp plaster, sweet fruit preferred to honey)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fformiche-italiane\u002Fmessor-structor\u002F",[112,110],{"type":159,"title":168,"url":169,"covers":170},"Ants R Us: Messor ibericus starter kit (claustral founding, nest 18 to 26 °C, 50 to 60% humidity, winter rest from November to February at 15 °C)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antsrus.com\u002Fproduct-page\u002Fmessor-ibericus-starter-kit",[112],{"type":159,"title":172,"url":173,"covers":174},"FormicaMarket: Messor ibericus care guide (nest 21 to 30 °C and 40 to 60% humidity, winter rest at 12 °C, mostly dry Ytong, plaster or 3D-printed nests; its queen size of 14 to 17 mm and summer flight months do not match the other sources)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicamarket.com\u002Fen\u002Fant-database\u002Fmessor-ibericus\u002F",[112],{"type":159,"title":176,"url":177,"covers":178},"Antariums: fiche d’élevage Messor structor (M. ibericus has a slightly shorter first funicular segment and smaller queens, and is kept the same way)","https:\u002F\u002Fv5.antariums.org\u002Fmessor-structor",[96,112],{"type":159,"title":180,"url":181,"covers":182},"Antkeeping.info: Messor ibericus (country list, flights in May and June)","https:\u002F\u002Fantkeeping.info\u002Fants\u002Fmessor-ibericus\u002F",[111,117],{"type":184,"title":185,"url":186,"covers":187},"forum","formicarium.it forum: Regine Messor structor (Marano sul Panaro, Modena, 17 April 2013: winged queens at a nest entrance in the evening without flying, mating on the ground, budding, and keepers noting that lone queens rarely found a colony)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=6303",[110,117,112],{"type":184,"title":189,"url":190,"covers":191},"formicarium.it forum: Diario di allevamento di Messor structor (an Italian colony of a few thousand workers with 12 dealate and about 40 winged queens, Ytong nest painted with acrylic paint, heat mat, 12 to 15 crickets or mealworms a week)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=5580",[112,110],{"type":184,"title":193,"url":194,"covers":195},"formicarium.it forum: Formicai in gesso, verticale e orizzontale (an Italian colony of over 3400 workers and about 30 queens, workers tunneling through damp plaster into the water tank)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=151",[112,110],{"type":92,"title":197,"url":198,"covers":199},"AntFlights: prenuptial flight of Messor ibericus, Madrid, Spain, 31 March 2025 at 12:41 (sunny and calm, not yet confirmed on the site)","https:\u002F\u002Fantflights.com\u002Ff\u002F2373\u002Fprenuptial-flight-messor-ibericus-comunidad-de-madrid-spain",[117],{"type":92,"title":201,"url":202,"covers":203},"EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Implementing Regulation 2016\u002F1141, consolidated)","https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Feli\u002Freg_impl\u002F2016\u002F1141\u002Foj",[204],"legal",{"type":92,"title":206,"url":207,"covers":208},"Wikipedia: List of invasive alien species of Union concern (the listed ants are Brachyponera chinensis, Solenopsis geminata, invicta and richteri, and Wasmannia auropunctata, no Messor)","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FList_of_invasive_alien_species_of_Union_concern",[204],{"type":92,"title":210,"url":211,"covers":212},"Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV), Anlage 1: protected species in Germany (Formica only, no Messor)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesetze-im-internet.de\u002Fbartschv_2005\u002Fanlage_1.html",[204],{"type":92,"title":214,"url":215,"covers":216},"MITECO: Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species, arthropods (no Messor)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miteco.gob.es\u002Fen\u002Fbiodiversidad\u002Ftemas\u002Fconservacion-de-especies\u002Fespecies-exoticas-invasoras\u002Fce_eei_artropodos_nc.html",[204],{"type":92,"title":218,"url":219,"covers":220},"Japan Ministry of the Environment: list of designated invasive alien species (Invasive Alien Species Act, no Messor)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.env.go.jp\u002Fnature\u002Fintro\u002F2outline\u002Flist.html",[204],"species\u002Fmessor-ibericus","Myrmicinae",[224,225],22,28,"Stenammini",[78,228],8,"2NvbTb3Jrc90cLU5OCA6PRI_bLVohp5t0YlK9ZVHqas","messor-ibericus","Messor","Hormiga cosechadora ibérica",[],"Una cosechadora de semillas marrón y velluda del sur de Europa, cuyas reinas crían obreras híbridas clonando a los machos de otra especie.",{"id":236,"title":237,"aliases":233,"body":238,"description":242,"extension":244,"faqs":245,"identification":255,"language":256,"meta":257,"navigation":258,"nickname":232,"notes":259,"path":270,"seo":271,"stem":272,"tagline":234,"__hash__":273},"speciesProfiles\u002Fes\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus.md","Messor Ibericus",{"type":239,"value":240,"toc":241},"minimark",[],{"title":242,"searchDepth":30,"depth":30,"links":243},"",[],"md",[246,249,252],{"question":247,"answer":248},"¿Cómo puede una reina de Messor ibericus dar a luz a otra especie?","Sus obreras solo pueden nacer del esperma de los machos de Messor structor, así que todas las obreras son híbridas, mientras que el esperma de su propia especie da lugar a nuevas reinas. En la mayoría de las colonias estudiadas, es ella misma quien pone esos machos de structor: algunos de sus huevos llevan solo el ADN de structor del esperma que almacenó y se desarrollan como clones de los machos con los que se apareó. En una colonia de laboratorio, una sola reina crió tanto machos velludos de ibericus como machos de structor casi sin pelo. Los investigadores llaman a esto xenoparidad.",{"question":250,"answer":251},"¿Mi colonia de Messor structor es en realidad Messor ibericus?","Si procede de Italia, España o la costa mediterránea, probablemente sí. Ambas se conocían con el nombre de structor hasta que un estudio de 2018 dividió la antigua structor en cinco especies, y un estudio de 2025 encontró Messor ibericus en 69 poblaciones mediterráneas sin una sola colonia de structor. Distinguir las obreras requiere un microscopio, pero las dos especies se crían igual.",{"question":253,"answer":254},"¿Dónde vive Messor ibericus?","En torno al norte del Mediterráneo, desde España y Portugal, pasando por el sur de Francia, Italia, Suiza y los Balcanes, hasta Grecia, Bulgaria y Rumanía, y al sur hasta Creta y Malta, con un enclave cerca de Maguncia, en Alemania. Anida en terrenos cálidos y abiertos, como pastizales secos, bordes de caminos, viñedos y jardines, a menudo bajo piedras y también en núcleos urbanos, normalmente a menor altitud que Messor structor.","Obreras de color marrón rojizo a marrón oscuro, de muchos tamaños, con abundantes pelos, más mates que la negra y brillante Messor capitatus. Es casi una gemela de Messor structor: solo un microscopio revela que su primer segmento de la antena tras el escapo es algo más corto, y sus reinas son más pequeñas, así que alrededor del Mediterráneo el lugar de origen es la mejor pista.","es",{},true,[260,263,266,268],{"kind":261,"text":262},"tip","Le conviene un nido cálido y bastante seco. El equipo del estudio publicado en Nature en 2025 mantuvo 65 colonias en una sala a 25 °C y con un 40 % de humedad, y les dio semillas de hierba. Añade un tubo de agua o un solo rincón húmedo, pero mantén seco el almacén de semillas, porque las semillas demasiado húmedas germinan y entonces las obreras las sacan fuera.",{"kind":264,"text":265},"watchOut","Una reina recogida junto a un nido puede que nunca consiga sacar adelante una colonia ella sola. En Italia se vieron reinas aladas esperando en la entrada del nido en lugar de echar a volar, y los criadores cuentan que se aparean en el suelo y luego vuelven al nido o se van con un grupo de obreras, y rara vez fundan una colonia solas. Recoge unas cuantas obreras junto con una reina así, o empieza con una colonia que ya las tenga.",{"kind":261,"text":267},"Las semillas son el alimento básico, con semillas pequeñas de diente de león o de hierba para las primeras obreras. Añade insectos a medida que crezca la colonia: una colonia italiana de unos pocos miles de obreras consumía de 12 a 15 grillos o gusanos de la harina por semana. La fruta dulce y madura suele gustar más que la miel.",{"kind":264,"text":269},"Las obreras excavan en el yeso y en el Ytong donde se humedecen. Una colonia italiana abrió un túnel a través del yeso reblandecido hasta el depósito de agua de su nido, así que deja paredes gruesas alrededor de las cámaras. Otro criador pintó un nido de Ytong con pintura acrílica, y las hormigas solo excavaron donde no había pintura.","\u002Fes\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus",{"description":242},"es\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus","nPFPO6hZ1fFgkcvdelb-4otPsNmsy0W_Shrz5j9lnsw",[275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285,286],"Alemania","Bulgaria","Croacia","Eslovenia","España","Francia","Grecia","Italia","Malta","Portugal","Rumanía","Suiza",[288,290,292],{"name":68,"slug":289},"messor-structor",{"name":69,"slug":291},"messor-capitatus",{"name":70,"slug":293},"messor-wasmanni",[295,310,321],{"slug":291,"scientificName":69,"genus":231,"nickname":242,"aliases":296,"tagline":297,"image":298,"experience":42,"guide":47,"difficulty":30,"workerSize":299,"majorSize":300,"queenSize":301,"temperature":302,"hibernation":303,"hibernationTemperature":304,"hibernationBand":305,"sizeClass":306,"founding":45,"colonyStructure":307,"regions":308},[],"Una cosechadora de semillas de un negro brillante, con obreras mayores de cabeza enorme que muelen las semillas duras para hacer pan de hormiga en terrenos secos y pedregosos.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-capitatus\u002Fmessor-capitatus.jpg",[78,228],13,[300,53],[224,225],"required",[52,53],"cool","large","monogyne",[84,309],"northAfrica",{"slug":289,"scientificName":68,"genus":231,"nickname":242,"aliases":311,"tagline":312,"image":313,"experience":42,"guide":47,"difficulty":30,"workerSize":314,"majorSize":52,"queenSize":315,"temperature":316,"hibernation":303,"hibernationTemperature":317,"hibernationBand":305,"sizeClass":306,"founding":45,"colonyStructure":319,"regions":320},[],"Una hormiga cosechadora marrón, de superficie rugosa, que comparte el nido con muchas reinas y se extiende separando colonias nuevas.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor\u002Fmessor-structor.jpg",[78,228],[82,50],[224,225],[228,318],12,"polygyne",[84],{"slug":322,"scientificName":323,"genus":231,"nickname":242,"aliases":324,"tagline":325,"image":326,"experience":42,"guide":47,"difficulty":30,"workerSize":327,"majorSize":52,"queenSize":328,"temperature":329,"hibernation":48,"hibernationTemperature":330,"hibernationBand":332,"sizeClass":306,"founding":45,"colonyStructure":307,"regions":333},"messor-ebeninus","Messor ebeninus",[],"Una hormiga cosechadora de un negro ébano brillante de Oriente Medio que guarda sus semillas en el piso de arriba y deja la cría en la tierra húmeda, mucho más abajo.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ebeninus\u002Fmessor-ebeninus.jpg",[78,228],[50,318],[224,225],[53,331],18,"mild",[334,309],"middleEast",[336,338,340],{"pair":337,"name":69},"messor-capitatus-vs-messor-ibericus",{"pair":339,"name":68},"messor-ibericus-vs-messor-structor",{"pair":341,"name":70},"messor-ibericus-vs-messor-wasmanni",[343,350,357],{"id":344,"title":345,"description":346,"image":347,"categoryText":348,"path":349},"blog\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest.md","Cómo hacer un nido de Ytong - Tutorial de cría de hormigas","¡En este tutorial aprenderás a hacer un nido de Ytong para tus colonias de hormigas! ¡Es uno de los mejores tipos de nido para muchas especies de hormigas!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ytong_ant_nest_tutorial.png","Tutoriales","\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest",{"id":351,"title":352,"description":353,"image":354,"categoryText":355,"path":356},"blog\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-care-for-messor-barbarus.md","Cómo cuidar a Messor barbarus","En esta guía aprenderás cómo cuidar a Messor barbarus: temperatura, humedad, alimentación, hibernación, tipo de nido... ¡y mucho más!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_messor_barbarus_care_guide.png","Guías de Cuidado","\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-care-for-messor-barbarus",{"id":358,"title":359,"description":360,"image":361,"categoryText":362,"path":363},"blog\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants.md","Cómo hibernar a tus hormigas - Tutorial de hibernación","En esta guía vamos a hablar de la hibernación: ¿qué es? ¿Por qué necesitan hibernar las hormigas? ¿Debería hibernar a mis hormigas? ¡Vamos a verlo!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_hibernation_guide.png","Conceptos Básicos","\u002Fes\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants",1793205508734]