Pogonomyrmex comanche

Pogonomyrmex comanche
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Pogonomyrmecini
Genus:	Pogonomyrmex
Species group:	californicus
Species:	P. comanche
Binomial name
Pogonomyrmex comanche Wheeler, W.M., 1902 Specimen Label

It was Wheeler who first recognized the very characteristic habitat and the usually specific type of nest superstructure of comanche. I have never seen a nest of this species that has not been located in a sandy area in close proximity to a post-oak grove. Nor have I ever collected comanche from a nest other than one marked by a crescentic or circular crater of sand or sandy soi1, from 3 inches or so to nearly 2 feet n diameter, which bore a single central entrance, and from which a surface covering of pebbles was absent. Within the range of the species, we have come to realize that where sandy soil and post-oak occur together, the chances of finding comanche are excellent. Moreover, such discontinuous distribution is typical of that species. (Cole 1968)

Identification

Wheeler noted the dense and rather strong cephalic punctulation of the comanche worker, a condition which is actually midway between the beaded type of Pogonomyrmex occidentalis and the comparatively weak punctulation of most Pogonomyrmex maricopa. This condition prevails, with only slight variation, throughout all Pogonomyrmex comanche workers that I have examined. A strikingly definitive trait of the comanche worker that both Dr. M. R. Smith (in litt.) and I have observed, but which Wheeler (1902a, p. 392), Olsen (1934, p. 509), and Creighton (1950, p .129) apparently overlooked, is the prominently flattened dorsum of the petiolar node. This distinctive feature is emphasized by the usual presence of a broad and shallow but pronounced longitudinal impression that extends mesally throughout the entire length of the dorsum of the node. Moreover, the dorsum of the node bears strong, wavy rugae which are generally transverse and subparallel. The workers of no other known species in either the maricopa or the occidentalis complex bear this combination of characters. (Cole 1968)

Keys including this Species

• Key to North American Pogonomyrmex
• Key to Pogonomyrmex californicus species group

Distribution

United States – western Louisiana, Texas, western Kansas, western Oklahoma, western Arkansas.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 37.783° to 27.47512759°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0104841. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• comanche. Pogonomyrmex occidentalis subsp. comanche Wheeler, W.M. 1902c: 392 (w.) U.S.A. Cole, 1968: 126 (q.m.); Taber, Cokendolpher & Francke, 1988: 51 (k.). Subspecies of occidentalis: Creighton, 1950a: 128; Gregg, 1963: 333. Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1914e: 156; Olsen, 1934: 498; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 793; Cole, 1968: 126.

Type Material

Type locality: Milano, Texas. Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Cole (1968) - HL 1.25-1.98 mm, HW 1.18-1.87 mm, CI 93.8-94.4, SL l.06-1.52 mm, SI 79.1-89.5, EL 0.27-0.42 mm, EW 0.15-0.27 mm, OI 21.2-21.6, WL 1.48-2.29 mm, PNL 0.42-0.68 mm, PNW 0.30-0.57 mm, PPL 0.38-0.68 mm, PPW 0.49-0.76 mm.

Mandible as shown in Pl. III, Fig. 11; all teeth long, well separated, rather sharp; subapical tooth and first, second, and third basals subequal in length; penultimate tooth distinctly shorter than ultimate which is considerably longer than second and third basals, distinctly though sometimes weakly offset from the basal mandibular margin. Base of antennal scape as illustrated in Pl. IV, Fig. 8. Contours of thorax, petiole, and postpetiole, in lateral view, as shown in Pl. IV, Fig. 10.

Cephalic punctulation fine, dense, prominent. Head and thorax subopaque. Epinotal spines variable in length, from short to long. Contour of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes. in dorsal view, as shown in Pl. VII, Fig. 14. Petiolar node, viewed from above, notably longer than broad, its dorsum distinctly flattened and generally provided with a broad, shallow, longitudinal groove; bearing coarse, wavy, widely spaced rugae that are usually transverse and subparallel, but sometimes longitudinal or arcuate; interrugal spaces shining, generally without perceptible structure. Dorsum of postpetiolar node with rather fine, wavy, transverse rugae; interrugal spaces finely and densely punclate, subopaque.

Color a rather uniform, rich, light to medium. ferrugineous red.

Queen

Cole (1968) - HL 1.79-1.82 mm, HW 1.87-1.90 mm, CI 104.4-104.5, SL 1.37-1.41 mm, SI 73.5-74.2, EL 0.38-0.42 mm, EW 0.27-0.30 mm, OI 21.2-23.1, WL 2.47-2.58 mm, PNL 0.53-0.57 mm, PNW 0.49-0.53 mm, PPL 0.65-0.68 mm, PPW 0.72-0.76 mm.

With the characters of the worker as expressed above and the usual female traits. In lateral view, scutum not meeting anteriorly the pronotum evenly, but notably offset posteriorly from the pronotum, the two being separated by a distinct, subangular impression; offset accentuated by a transverse peripheral carina on anterior surface of pronotum which, when viewed from in front, is elongate and very broadly V-shaped.

Male

Cole (1968) - HL 1.18-1.52 mm, HW 1.37-1.56 mm, CI 102.6-116.1, SL 0.57-0.65 mm, SI 41.6-41.7, EL 0.16-0.49 mm, EW 0.27-0.30 mm, OI 32.2-38.9, WL 2.28-2.58 mm, PNL 0.38-0.42 mm, PNW 0.49-0.57 mm.

Mandible; blade strongly bent, its outer margin prominently and abruptly convex at the bend, provided with 3 or 4 teeth of irregular shape on the transverse apical border. Head without a median longitudinal carina. Cephalic rugae longitudinal, fine, rather dense; the interspaces distinctly shining and with sparse, fine, faint punctures which do not dull the surface. Epinotum with a pair of prominent blunt angles or short, robust spines which are very broad at the base and strongly directed upward; infraspinal facet smooth and strongly shining. Petiolar node, viewed from above, notably longer than broad, the sides subparallel, the dorsum broadly and faintly grooved longitudinally. Dorsum of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes mostly smooth and shining; rugae, when present, faint, sparse, very fine, irregular, with a transverse trend.

Head, thorax, petiole, and postpetiole dark brown; gaster and appendages light yellowish brown to medium brown.

Karyotype

• n = 16, 2n = 32 (USA) (Taber et al., 1988).

References

• Cole, A. C., Jr. 1968. Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. A study of the genus in North America. Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, x + 222 pp. (page 126, queen, male described)
• Cole, A. C., Jr. 1968. Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. A study of the genus in North America. Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, x + 222 pp. (page 126, revived status as species)
• Creighton, W. S. 1950a. The ants of North America. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 104: 1-585 (page 128, subspecies of occidentalis)
• Olsen, O. W. 1934. Notes on the North American harvesting ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex Mayr. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 493-514 (page 498, raised to species)
• Smith, M. R. 1951c. Family Formicidae. Pp. 778-875 in: Muesebeck, C. F., Krombein, K. V., Townes, H. K. (eds.) Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico. Synoptic catalogue. U. S. Dep. Agric. Agric. Monogr. 2:1-1420. (page 793, revived status as species)
• Taber, S. W.; Cokendolpher, J. C.; Francke, O. F. 1988. Karyological study of North American Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 35: 47-60 (page 51, karyotype described)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1902d. New agricultural ants from Texas. Psyche (Camb.) 9: 387-393 (page 392, worker described)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1914f. New and little known harvesting ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex. Psyche (Camb.) 21: 149-157.(page 156, raised to species)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Albrecht M. 1995. New Species Distributions of Ants in Oklahoma, including a South American Invader. Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 75: 21-24.
• Cokendolpher J.C., Reddell J.R., Taylor S.J, Krejca J.K., Suarez A.V. and Pekins C.E. 2009. Further ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from caves of Texas [Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicdae) adicionales de cuevas de Texas]. Texas Memorial Museum Speleological Monographs, 7. Studies on the cave and endogean fauna of North America, V. Pp. 151-168
• Cook J. L. 2003. Conservation of biodiversity in an area impacted by the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biodiversity and Conservation 12: 187–195.
• Dash S. T. and L. M. Hooper-Bui. 2008. Species diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Louisiana. Conservation Biology and Biodiversity. 101: 1056-1066
• DuBois M. B. 1981. New records of ants in Kansas, III. State Biological Survey of Kansas. Technical Publications 10: 32-44
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1140
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1141
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1142
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1143
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1144
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1145
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1146
• DuBois M. B. 1985. Distribution of ants in Kansas: subfamilies Ponerinae, Ecitoninae, and Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 11: 153-1147
• General D.M. & Thompson L.C. 2008. New Distributional Records of Ants in Arkansas for 2008. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science. 63: 182-184
• Johnson R.A., R.P. Overson and C.S. Moreau. 2013. A New Species of Seed-harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex hoelldobleri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), from the Mohave and Sonoran Deserts of North America. Zootaxa 3646 (3): 201-227
• LeBrun E. G., R. M. Plowes, and L. E. Gilbert. 2015. Imported fire ants near the edge of their range: disturbance and moisture determine prevalence and impact of an invasive social insect. Journal of Animal Ecology,81: 884–895.
• Moody J. V., and O. F. Francke. 1982. The Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Western Texas Part 1: Subfamily Myrmicinae. Graduate Studies Texas Tech University 27: 80 pp.
• O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
• Olsen O. W. 1934. Notes on the North American harvesting ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex Mayr. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 493-514.
• Reddell J. R., and J. C. Cokendolpher. 2001. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from caves of Belize, Mexico, and California and Texas (U.S.A.) Texas. Texas Memorial Museum Speleological Monographs 5: 129-154.
• Taber S. W., J. C. Cokendolpher, and O. F. Francke. 1988. Karyological study of North American Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 35: 47-60.
• Warren, L.O. and E.P. Rouse. 1969. The Ants of Arkansas. Bulletin of the Agricultural Experiment Station 742:1-67
• Warriner M. D. 2011. Status of the harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex spp.; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fauna of Arkansas. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 84(2):160-162.
• Wheeler W. M. 1902. New agricultural ants from Texas. Psyche (Cambridge). 9: 387-393.
• Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.