About Messor structor (Latreille, 1798)
Messor structor is a large seed-harvester ant species that has clear worker polymorphism, meaning workers of the colony differ noticeably in size. Worker individuals range roughly 4 to 10 millimeters in body length. Their body color is usually dark brown to black, and unlike many other species in the Messor genus, a large number of M. structor workers have a clearly distinct brown coloration. The exoskeleton of this ant is covered in relatively dense, stiff hairs or bristles. Messor structor most often lives in dry, open habitats, particularly sandy landscapes or steppe environments. It is commonly found in steppes, semi-deserts, and sandy plains.
