Feeding Behaviour of Messor barbarus (L) and Its Role in Seed Dissemination

This study is on the feeding behaviour of Messor barbarus (L) and the material observed near its nests from Algiers, in particular from the forest of Baïnem during summer, 2007. It was observed that M. barbarus transports towards its nest seeds of 30 species of plants, especially those of Poaceae (49.4%), followed by Fabaceae (18.2%), and Apiaceae (16.0%). This behaviour depends on availability of plants around the nest. Eucalyptus Gonfocephalus, Quercus coccifera, median Phillyrea and Pistacia lentiscus were the main contributors. The ant was able to collect seeds from locations beyond 20 m such as those of Paspalum dilatatum (5.8%), Sonchus maritimus (2.5%), and Medicago hispida (12.2%) depending on the dispersal of the seeds in the location.