Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus, or rough harvester ant,[2] is a species of harvester ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae which is endemic to the southwestern United States,[3] specifically New Mexico[4] and southern Colorado.[5]

Pogonomyrmex rugosus
P. rugosus worker from New Mexico
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Formicidae
Subfamily:
Myrmicinae
Tribe:
Myrmicini
Genus:
Pogonomyrmex
Species:
P. rugosus
Binomial name
Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Emery, 1895[1]

Colonies

P. rugosus colonies can grow to have up to 15,000 workers.[6]

Behavior

Foraging Tactics

P. rugosus workers use group foraging tactics that involve the creation of permanent pathways (trunk trails). They also use pheromones trails to draw other workers to areas of food-availability.[6]

Interspecies Interactions

Two other species of harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex anergismus and Pogonomyrmex colei, have no workers of their own. Instead, they live in the colonies of P. rugosus and Pogonomyrmex barbatus (red harvester ant) and enslave workers to raise reproductive males and females for them.[6]

References
  1. Emery, C. (1895). "Beiträge zur Kenntniss der nordamerikanischen Ameisenfauna. (Schluss.)". Zoologische Jahrbücher Abteilung für Systematik Ökologie und Geographie der Tiere. 8: 257–360.
  2. Del Toro, I.; Floyd, K.; Gardea-Torresdey, J.; Borrok, D. (2010). "Heavy metal distribution and bioaccumulation in Chihuahuan Desert Rough Harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) populations". Environmental Pollution. 158 (5): 1281–7. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.01.024. PMID 20189272.
  3. "Species: Pogonomyrmex (Pogonomyrmex) (barbatus-group) rugosus". AntWeb. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  4. Bowers, Ray. "Rough Harvester Ants". Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  5. "Colorado Insect of Interest: Harvester Ants" (PDF). Colorado State University. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  6. Encyclopedia of entomology. Capinera, John L. (2nd ed.). Dordrecht: Springer. 2008. ISBN 978-1402062421. OCLC 288440300.CS1 maint: others (link)


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