Messor arenarius - Ecology

Formica arenaria, firstly described in 1787 by Fabricius, nowadays known as Messor Arenarius, or the Dune Harvester Ant.

From the Latin Messor, meaning Harvester and Arenarius that translates as Sand.

These ants in particular are commonly encountered in more arid habitats like semi-deserts and deserts. They can be found distributed across the northern part of Africa and into the Middle East to countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan Syria, Israel, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.