[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":340},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor":3},{"species":4,"profile":222,"countryNames":256,"lookalikes":265,"similar":271,"posts":318},{"id":5,"authority":6,"colonyStructure":7,"confidence":8,"countries":11,"defense":20,"diet":22,"difficulty":26,"dryHumidity":27,"escapeRisk":10,"estimated":30,"experience":37,"extension":38,"finder":39,"founding":40,"growth":41,"guide":42,"hibernation":43,"hibernationMonths":44,"hibernationTemperature":47,"humidity":50,"image":52,"imageCredit":53,"imageHeight":57,"imageWidth":58,"interests":42,"keptSince":42,"legal":59,"lookalikes":62,"majorSize":66,"maxWorkers":67,"meta":68,"nests":69,"nuptialFlightMonths":73,"nuptialFlightTime":42,"nuptialFlightTriggers":42,"polymorphism":76,"queenSize":77,"regions":79,"relatedPosts":81,"reviewedAt":61,"scientificName":85,"sources":86,"stem":209,"subfamily":210,"temperature":211,"tribe":214,"workerSize":215,"__hash__":216,"slug":217,"genus":218,"nickname":219,"aliases":220,"tagline":221},"species\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor.yml","(Latreille, 1798)","polygyne",{"biology":9,"husbandry":9,"nuptialFlight":10},"medium","low",[12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19],"FR","AT","CZ","SK","HU","SI","RO","BG",[21],"bite",[23,24,25],"seeds","insects","sugar","2",[28,29],30,50,[31,32,33,34,35,36],"humidity","hibernationTemperature","nuptialFlightMonths","workerSize","queenSize","maxWorkers","compiled","yml",false,"claustral","fast",null,"required",[45,46],11,2,[48,49],8,12,[29,51],70,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor.jpg",{"author":54,"license":55,"url":56},"Philipp Hoenle (myrmecophil)","CC0 1.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations\u002F164495579",800,1200,{"status":60,"checked":61},"free","2026-10-11",[63,64,65],"Messor ibericus","Messor barbarus","Messor capitatus",10,5000,{},[70,71,72],"ytong","acrylic","naturalistic",[74,75],4,6,"polymorphic",[78,45],9,[80],"europe",[82,83,84],"how-to-hibernate-your-ants","ytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest","how-to-make-a-ytong-nest","Messor structor",[87,93,100,104,108,112,116,120,127,131,135,139,143,147,151,155,159,163,168,172,176,180,184,188,193,197,201,205],{"type":88,"title":89,"url":90,"covers":91},"reference","AntCat: Messor structor (Latreille, 1798), valid species with a neotype from Brive-la-Gaillarde designated in 2018","https:\u002F\u002Fantcat.org\u002Fcatalog\u002F440221",[92],"taxonomy",{"type":94,"title":95,"url":96,"covers":97},"paper","Steiner et al. (2018), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: Turning one into five, integrative taxonomy of the harvester ant Messor structor (redescription of M. structor and M. ibericus from morphometrics, mitochondrial DNA, AFLP, Wolbachia strains and ecological niche models)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1016\u002Fj.ympev.2018.04.005",[92,98,99],"biology","distribution",{"type":94,"title":101,"url":102,"covers":103},"Juvé et al. (2025), Nature 646: One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants (Messor ibericus workers are hybrids fathered by M. structor males, no M. structor in Mediterranean populations)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1038\u002Fs41586-025-09425-w",[92,98,99],{"type":94,"title":105,"url":106,"covers":107},"Schlick-Steiner, Steiner, Stauffer and Buschinger (2005), Insectes Sociaux 52: Life history traits of a European Messor harvester ant (Messor cf. structor in Austria)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002Fs00040-005-0819-8",[98],{"type":94,"title":109,"url":110,"covers":111},"Schlick-Steiner et al. (2006), European Journal of Entomology 103: More than one species of Messor harvester ants in Central Europe (Lower Austrian populations unicolonial and without swarming, German ones swarming)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eje.cz\u002Fpdfs\u002Feje\u002F2006\u002F02\u002F25.pdf",[98,99],{"type":88,"title":113,"url":114,"covers":115},"AntWiki: Messor structor (country list, and the Retz study of a unicolonial population without swarming flights)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antwiki.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMessor_structor",[92,98,99],{"type":88,"title":117,"url":118,"covers":119},"Wikipedia (French): Messor structor (range in France, polygyny, sperm parasitism by M. ibericus)","https:\u002F\u002Ffr.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FMessor_structor",[92,98,99],{"type":121,"title":122,"url":123,"covers":124},"careSheet","MyrmécoFourmis: fiche Messor structor (sizes, spring swarming, polygyny, founding, mites, climate, winter rest)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.myrmecofourmis.org\u002Ffiches\u002F700971",[125,98,126,99],"husbandry","nuptialFlight",{"type":121,"title":128,"url":129,"covers":130},"Antariums: fiche d’élevage Messor structor (identification against M. ibericus, flight season, founding, nest, winter rest)","https:\u002F\u002Fv5.antariums.org\u002Fmessor-structor",[125,98,126,92],{"type":121,"title":132,"url":133,"covers":134},"formicarium.it: Scheda di allevamento di Messor structor","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fformiche-italiane\u002Fmessor-structor\u002F",[125,98,126,99],{"type":121,"title":136,"url":137,"covers":138},"Ameisenforum.de: Steckbrief Messor ibericus (früher Messor structor), with the Central European form listed as Messor cf. structor","https:\u002F\u002Fameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=31069",[125,98,99,126],{"type":121,"title":140,"url":141,"covers":142},"Ameisenhaltung.de: Artenverzeichnis, Messor structor","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenhaltung.de\u002Fartenverzeichnis\u002Fentry\u002F237-messor-structor\u002F",[125,98,126],{"type":121,"title":144,"url":145,"covers":146},"Antstore: Messor structor","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antstore.net\u002Fshop\u002Fen\u002Fants\u002FAnts-from-South-Europe\u002FMessor-structor.html",[125,98,126],{"type":121,"title":148,"url":149,"covers":150},"Ants R Us: care sheet for Messor structor (PDF)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antsrus.com\u002F_files\u002Fugd\u002Fd392ea_a4a7860b71494591925ff75ef8d6efc6.pdf",[125],{"type":121,"title":152,"url":153,"covers":154},"FormicaMarket: Messor structor care guide","https:\u002F\u002Fformicamarket.com\u002Fen\u002Fant-database\u002Fmessor-structor\u002F",[125,98],{"type":121,"title":156,"url":157,"covers":158},"Ant Shack: Messor structor, the steppe harvester ant","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ant-shack.com\u002Fpages\u002Fencyclopedia-entry\u002Fmessor-structor",[125],{"type":121,"title":160,"url":161,"covers":162},"Antkeeping.info: Messor structor","https:\u002F\u002Fantkeeping.info\u002Fants\u002Fmessor-structor\u002F",[125,98,126],{"type":164,"title":165,"url":166,"covers":167},"forum","formicarium.it forum: Regine Messor structor (queens mating near the nest entrance in April, budding)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=6303",[98,126],{"type":164,"title":169,"url":170,"covers":171},"formicarium.it forum: Diario di allevamento di Messor structor (a colony of several thousand workers, 12 queens and about 40 winged queens)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=5580",[125,98],{"type":164,"title":173,"url":174,"covers":175},"formicarium.it forum: Formicai in gesso, verticale e orizzontale (a colony of about 3400 workers and about 30 queens)","https:\u002F\u002Fformicarium.it\u002Fviewtopic.php?t=151",[125,98],{"type":88,"title":177,"url":178,"covers":179},"AntFlights: nuptial flight of Messor structor, South Moravia, Czechia, 24 May 2023 (not yet confirmed on the site)","https:\u002F\u002Fantflights.com\u002Ff\u002F1497\u002Fnuptial-flight-messor-structor-south-moravian-region-czechia",[126],{"type":88,"title":181,"url":182,"covers":183},"AntFlights: nuptial flight of Messor structor, Lyon area, France, 24 May 2019 (not yet confirmed on the site)","https:\u002F\u002Fantflights.com\u002Ff\u002F18\u002Fnuptial-flight-messor-structor-auvergne-rhone-alpes-france",[126],{"type":88,"title":185,"url":186,"covers":187},"GBIF: Messor structor (Latreille, 1798), occurrence records by country (old broad concept, used only as a cross-check)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gbif.org\u002Fspecies\u002F1316520",[99],{"type":88,"title":189,"url":190,"covers":191},"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",[192],"legal",{"type":88,"title":194,"url":195,"covers":196},"Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV), Anlage 1: protected species in Germany","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesetze-im-internet.de\u002Fbartschv_2005\u002Fanlage_1.html",[192],{"type":88,"title":198,"url":199,"covers":200},"MITECO: Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species, arthropods","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miteco.gob.es\u002Fen\u002Fbiodiversidad\u002Ftemas\u002Fconservacion-de-especies\u002Fespecies-exoticas-invasoras\u002Fce_eei_artropodos_nc.html",[192],{"type":88,"title":202,"url":203,"covers":204},"Czech Decree 395\u002F1992: specially protected animals (ants of the genus Formica only)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.zakonyprolidi.cz\u002Fcs\u002F1992-395",[192],{"type":88,"title":206,"url":207,"covers":208},"Japan Ministry of the Environment: list of designated invasive alien species (Invasive Alien Species Act)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.env.go.jp\u002Fnature\u002Fintro\u002F2outline\u002Flist.html",[192],"species\u002Fmessor-structor","Myrmicinae",[212,213],22,28,"Stenammini",[74,48],"I3J5yuofs_bmZlrwI82XvtngMgd6-1ExrRHtsqML11w","messor-structor","Messor","",[],"A rough-skinned brown harvester ant that shares its nest with many queens and spreads by splitting off new colonies.",{"id":223,"title":224,"aliases":220,"body":225,"description":219,"extension":230,"faqs":231,"identification":238,"language":239,"meta":240,"navigation":241,"nickname":219,"notes":242,"path":253,"seo":254,"stem":209,"tagline":221,"__hash__":255},"speciesProfiles\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor.md","Messor Structor",{"type":226,"value":227,"toc":228},"minimark",[],{"title":219,"searchDepth":46,"depth":46,"links":229},[],"md",[232,235],{"question":233,"answer":234},"Is Messor structor the same species as Messor ibericus?","No. In 2018 researchers split the old Messor structor into five species, and the name structor now covers the one living in Central Europe and parts of France. Messor ibericus lives around the Mediterranean, has smaller queens and differs in small details of the antennae, and a 2025 study in Nature showed that its queens clone Messor structor males and need their sperm to produce workers, so all its workers are hybrids. Keepers give both the same care.",{"question":236,"answer":237},"How do wild Messor structor colonies spread?","Often by budding. After mating near or inside the nest, a queen either goes back into the colony or leaves with a group of workers to start a new nest nearby. In a Lower Austrian population no swarming flights were seen and ants from many nests lived together as one supercolony, while other populations are reported to swarm in spring.","Light to dark brown workers of many sizes, sometimes nearly black, with abundant hairs and a coarse, striated surface that looks duller than the glossy black Messor capitatus. Since 2018 the name covers only one of five species once lumped together, and ants collected around the Mediterranean and sold as structor are very likely Messor ibericus, which is hard to tell apart without measurements under a microscope but is kept the same way.","en",{},true,[243,246,248,251],{"kind":244,"text":245},"tip","Start with a queen that comes with workers, or put several queens together. French keepers report that lone queens often fail to found a colony in captivity, because the species seems to start new nests mostly by budding.",{"kind":244,"text":247},"Offer dead insects and very ripe sweet fruit next to the seeds. French keepers say it needs them more than other harvester ants do, Italian keepers note a liking for sweet fruit, and honey is often ignored.",{"kind":249,"text":250},"watchOut","The workers dig into aerated concrete and plaster, mostly when they run short of space. Coat a Ytong nest with mortar, tile glue or resin plaster, or use acrylic, and never leave thin walls.",{"kind":249,"text":252},"A damp nest full of rotting seeds is ideal for detritivorous mites. Laying stops, activity drops and the brood disappears, so keep one dry zone for storing seeds, freeze seeds and insects before feeding, and remove spoiled seeds.","\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-structor",{"description":219},"j5075SGiubd0qqeBdRz1eoI3KcASpDFkg1r9Pwwa35E",[257,258,259,260,261,262,263,264],"Austria","Bulgaria","Czechia","France","Hungary","Romania","Slovakia","Slovenia",[266,267,269],{"name":63,"slug":42},{"name":64,"slug":268},"messor-barbarus",{"name":65,"slug":270},"messor-capitatus",[272,288,304],{"slug":270,"scientificName":65,"genus":218,"nickname":273,"aliases":274,"tagline":275,"image":276,"experience":37,"guide":42,"difficulty":26,"workerSize":277,"majorSize":278,"queenSize":279,"temperature":281,"hibernation":43,"hibernationTemperature":282,"hibernationBand":283,"sizeClass":284,"founding":40,"colonyStructure":285,"regions":286},"European seed harvesting ant",[],"A glossy black seed harvester with big-headed majors that grind tough seeds into ant bread on dry, rocky ground.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-capitatus.jpg",[74,48],13,[278,280],15,[212,213],[66,280],"cool","large","monogyne",[80,287],"northAfrica",{"slug":289,"scientificName":290,"genus":218,"nickname":291,"aliases":292,"tagline":293,"image":294,"experience":37,"guide":42,"difficulty":26,"workerSize":295,"majorSize":66,"queenSize":296,"temperature":297,"hibernation":298,"hibernationTemperature":299,"hibernationBand":301,"sizeClass":284,"founding":40,"colonyStructure":285,"regions":302},"messor-ebeninus","Messor ebeninus","Ebony harvester ant",[],"A glossy ebony-black harvester ant of the Middle East that stores its seeds upstairs and raises its brood in damp soil far below.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-ebeninus.jpg",[74,48],[45,49],[212,213],"recommended",[280,300],18,"mild",[303,287],"middleEast",{"slug":305,"scientificName":306,"genus":218,"nickname":307,"aliases":308,"tagline":309,"image":310,"experience":37,"guide":42,"difficulty":26,"workerSize":311,"majorSize":66,"queenSize":312,"temperature":314,"hibernation":43,"hibernationTemperature":316,"hibernationBand":301,"sizeClass":284,"founding":40,"colonyStructure":285,"regions":317},"messor-wasmanni","Messor wasmanni","Wasmann's harvester ant",[],"A big-headed seed harvester of sunny Italian and Balkan grasslands, with tidy trails to its nest and a name still written with a cautious cf.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fmessor-wasmanni.jpg",[74,48],[49,313],14,[212,315],26,[49,280],[80,303],[319,326,333],{"id":320,"title":321,"description":322,"image":323,"categoryText":324,"path":325},"blog\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants.md","How To Hibernate Your Ants - Hibernation Tutorial","In this guide, we’re going to talk about hibernation: What is it? Why do ants need hibernation? Should I hibernate my ants? Let's see!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_hibernation_guide.png","Ant Keeping Basics","\u002Fhow-to-hibernate-your-ants",{"id":327,"title":328,"description":329,"image":330,"categoryText":331,"path":332},"blog\u002Fytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest.md","Ytong vs Acrylic - Which Is Better For An Ant Nest?","In this article, we’re going to talk about two of the most popular types of ant nests: acrylic nests and Ytong nests! Let's compare them!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ytong_vs_acrylic.png","Product Comparisons","\u002Fytong-vs-acrylic-which-is-better-for-an-ant-nest",{"id":334,"title":335,"description":336,"image":337,"categoryText":338,"path":339},"blog\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest.md","How To Make a Ytong Nest - Ant Keeping Tutorial","In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a Ytong nest for your ant colonies! This is one of the best nest types for many ant species!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ytong_ant_nest_tutorial.png","Tutorials & D.I.Y.","\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest",1791900226039]