n African Entomology - Longevity and survival of colonies of Messor capensis (Formicidae : Myrmicinae) in the Karoo, South Africa : short communication

Abstract

Ants play an important role in recycling nutrients in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (Whitford 1986, 2002; Wilby et al. 2001), including the semi-arid Karoo, South Africa (Dean & Yeaton 1993a). In the Karoo, granivorous harvester ants, Messor capensis, are central-place foragers, bringing seeds to nests from up to 20 m (Dean 1991).