Messor pergandei is a species of harvester ant native to the Southwestern United States, especially the deserts of southeastern California. It has also been identified in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. It was first described by Gustav Mayr, who named it Aphaenogaster pergandei. It has also been referred to as Veromessor pergandei when classified in the Veromessor genus (a junior synonym of Messor).