Harvester ant

Harvester ant is a common name for any of the species or genera of ants that collect seeds (called seed predation), or mushrooms as in the case of Euprenolepis procera, which are stored in the nest in communal chambers called granaries.

During the day, these ants search the savannas for vegetation and plant seeds, and carry them along back to their nest.

For example, in the ant Messor andrei, recruitment to food bait is higher in more humid conditions.

Food is distributed by wind and flooding and rain uncover seeds in the top layer of the soil.

This causes 4-8 hours of sharp pain with effects similar to neurotoxicity such as piloerection and localized swelling around the area of the sting.