| any of several red or black ants, esp. of the genus Pogonomyrmex, of the southwestern U.S., that feed on and store the seeds of grasses. |
harvester ant
any of several different genera of ants (e.g., Messor, Atta, Pheidole, Pogonomyrmex) that gather seeds and leaves. Messor species collect, husk, and store seeds in their nests. Atta species collect leaves and use them to grow fungi, which they eat.
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