harvester ant

A worker harvester ant carrying a large seed.

harvester ant, any of several different genera of ants (e.g., Messor, Atta, Pheidole, Pogonomyrmex) that gather seeds and leaves. As eusocial insects, the work of these ants is done to feed and support the colony, a family unit that functions almost as a single organism.

Messor species collect, husk, and store seeds in their nests. The leafcutter ants, notably members of the genus Atta, collect leaves and use them to grow fungi, which they eat. Some Pheidole members have large strong jaws that are probably used to crush the harvested seeds. Pogonomyrmex, another seed harvester, can inflict a painful sting.