[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":364},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fit\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus":3},{"species":4,"profile":235,"countryNames":273,"lookalikes":286,"similar":293,"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","",[],"Una raccoglitrice di semi bruna e pelosa dell'Europa meridionale, le cui regine allevano operaie ibride clonando i maschi di un'altra specie.",{"id":236,"title":237,"aliases":233,"body":238,"description":232,"extension":243,"faqs":244,"identification":254,"language":255,"meta":256,"navigation":257,"nickname":232,"notes":258,"path":269,"seo":270,"stem":271,"tagline":234,"__hash__":272},"speciesProfiles\u002Fit\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus.md","Messor Ibericus",{"type":239,"value":240,"toc":241},"minimark",[],{"title":232,"searchDepth":30,"depth":30,"links":242},[],"md",[245,248,251],{"question":246,"answer":247},"Come può una regina di Messor ibericus dare alla luce un'altra specie?","Le sue operaie possono nascere solo dallo sperma dei maschi di Messor structor, quindi ogni operaia è ibrida, mentre lo sperma della sua stessa specie dà nuove regine. Nella maggior parte delle colonie studiate è lei stessa a deporre quei maschi di structor: alcune delle sue uova contengono solo il DNA di structor dello sperma che ha conservato e si sviluppano in cloni dei maschi con cui si è accoppiata. In una colonia di laboratorio, una sola regina ha allevato sia maschi pelosi di ibericus sia maschi di structor quasi privi di peli. I ricercatori chiamano questo fenomeno xenoparità.",{"question":249,"answer":250},"La mia colonia di Messor structor è davvero Messor ibericus?","Se proviene dall'Italia, dalla Spagna o dalla costa mediterranea, probabilmente sì. Entrambe andavano sotto il nome di structor finché uno studio del 2018 non ha suddiviso la vecchia structor in cinque specie, e uno studio del 2025 ha trovato Messor ibericus in 69 popolazioni mediterranee senza una sola colonia di structor. Distinguere le operaie richiede un microscopio, ma le due specie si allevano allo stesso modo.",{"question":252,"answer":253},"Dove vive Messor ibericus?","Intorno al Mediterraneo settentrionale, dalla Spagna e dal Portogallo, passando per la Francia meridionale, l'Italia, la Svizzera e i Balcani, fino a Grecia, Bulgaria e Romania, e a sud fino a Creta e Malta, con un avamposto vicino a Magonza, in Germania. Nidifica in terreni caldi e aperti, come praterie aride, bordi delle strade, vigneti e giardini, spesso sotto le pietre e anche nei centri abitati, di solito a quote più basse di Messor structor.","Operaie di molte taglie, da marrone rossiccio a marrone scuro, con molti peli, più opache della lucida e nera Messor capitatus. È quasi una gemella di Messor structor: solo al microscopio si vede che il primo segmento dell'antenna dopo lo scapo è leggermente più corto, e le sue regine sono più piccole, quindi intorno al Mediterraneo il luogo di provenienza è l'indizio migliore.","it",{},true,[259,262,265,267],{"kind":260,"text":261},"tip","Un nido caldo e abbastanza asciutto è quello che fa per lei. Il gruppo di ricerca dello studio pubblicato su Nature nel 2025 ha tenuto 65 colonie in una stanza a 25 °C e al 40% di umidità, nutrendole con semi di graminacee. Aggiungi una provetta d'acqua o un solo angolo umido, ma tieni asciutta la scorta di semi, perché i semi troppo umidi germogliano e le operaie poi li portano fuori.",{"kind":263,"text":264},"watchOut","Una regina raccolta accanto a un nido potrebbe non riuscire mai ad avviare da sola una colonia. In Italia sono state viste regine alate che aspettavano all'ingresso del nido invece di prendere il volo, e gli allevatori riferiscono che si accoppiano a terra, poi rientrano nel nido o se ne vanno con un gruppo di operaie, e raramente fondano una colonia da sole. Raccogli qualche operaia insieme a una regina così, oppure parti da una colonia che ne ha già.",{"kind":260,"text":266},"I semi sono l'alimento base, con semi piccoli di tarassaco o di graminacee per le prime operaie. Aggiungi insetti man mano che la colonia cresce: una colonia italiana di qualche migliaio di operaie consumava da 12 a 15 grilli o camole della farina a settimana. La frutta dolce e matura tende a essere più gradita del miele.",{"kind":263,"text":268},"Le operaie scavano nel gesso e nell'Ytong dove diventano umidi. Una colonia italiana ha scavato un tunnel nel gesso ammorbidito fino alla riserva d'acqua del suo nido, quindi lascia pareti spesse attorno alle camere. Un altro allevatore ha dipinto un nido in Ytong con vernice acrilica, e le formiche hanno scavato solo dove non era verniciato.","\u002Fit\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus",{"description":232},"it\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ibericus","TrVBkXMhdoWVhIbAP8qTbl2kz5u7mTJCH5ESGRFGBcQ",[274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285],"Bulgaria","Croazia","Francia","Germania","Grecia","Italia","Malta","Portogallo","Romania","Slovenia","Spagna","Svizzera",[287,289,291],{"name":68,"slug":288},"messor-structor",{"name":69,"slug":290},"messor-capitatus",{"name":70,"slug":292},"messor-wasmanni",[294,310,321],{"slug":290,"scientificName":69,"genus":231,"nickname":295,"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},"Formicone nero",[],"Una raccoglitrice di semi nera e lucida, con maggiori dalla testa grossa che macinano i semi più duri fino a farne pane di formica su terreni asciutti e rocciosi.","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":288,"scientificName":68,"genus":231,"nickname":232,"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 formica mietitrice bruna dalla superficie ruvida, che condivide il nido con molte regine e si diffonde staccando nuove colonie.","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":232,"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 formica mietitrice del Medio Oriente, nera come l'ebano e lucida, che conserva i semi ai piani alti e alleva la covata nel terreno umido molto più in basso.","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\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest.md","Come Fare un Nido in Ytong - Tutorial per Formiche","In questo tutorial imparerai a realizzare un nido in Ytong per le tue colonie di formiche! È uno dei migliori tipi di nido per molte specie di formiche!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ytong_ant_nest_tutorial.png","Tutorial e Fai da Te","\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest",{"id":351,"title":352,"description":353,"image":354,"categoryText":355,"path":356},"blog\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-care-for-messor-barbarus.md","Come Prendersi Cura di Messor barbarus","In questa guida, imparerai come prenderti cura di Messor barbarus! Temperatura, umidità, cibo, ibernazione, tipo di nido... e molto altro!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_messor_barbarus_care_guide.png","Guide alla Cura","\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-care-for-messor-barbarus",{"id":358,"title":359,"description":360,"image":361,"categoryText":362,"path":363},"blog\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants.md","Come Ibernare le Tue Formiche - Tutorial sull'Ibernazione","In questa guida parleremo di ibernazione: cos'è? Perché le formiche hanno bisogno dell'ibernazione? Devo ibernare le mie formiche? Scopriamolo!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_hibernation_guide.png","Basi dell'Allevamento di Formiche","\u002Fit\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants",1793205502449]