 Novomessor ensifer is a species of ant endemic to Mexico . A member of the genus Novomessor in the subfamily Myrmicinae , it was first described by Swiss entomologist Auguste Forel in 1899 . N. ensifer was originally a part of the genus Aphaenogaster until a recent phylogenetic study concluded that Novomessor was genetically distinct and should be separated . The ant is a medium @-@ sized species , measuring 5 @.@ 5 to 10 millimetres ( 0 @.@ 2 to 0 @.@ 4 in ) . The ant is ferruginous @-@ colored in some certain parts of the body , and small workers ( nanitics ) in incipient colonies are noticeably different in color and body structure . 
