Pogonomyrmex desertorum

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Pogonomyrmex desertorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Pogonomyrmecini
Genus: Pogonomyrmex
Species group: barbatus
Species: P. desertorum
Binomial name
Pogonomyrmex desertorum
Wheeler, W.M., 1902

Monomorium subopacum casent0010951 head 1.jpg

Pogonomyrmex desertorum casent0000258 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

This is a species of seed harvesters (individual and group forager) with small nest populations (few hundreds?). They are very docile ants. They nest in sandy areas, or even gravel soils, with a small mound surrounding the nest entrance. Flights occur in June and July. During the mating flights, sexuals search for the highest object in an area, which in its typical habitat is usually the myrmecologist! It can be a very interesting experience, and additionally the females can deliver a painful sting. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Photo Gallery

  • Forelius sp. harassing a Pogonomyrmex desertorum worker in Arizona. Photo by Alex Wild.

Identification

Cole (1968) - In the eastern part of its range, Pogonomyrmex desertorum is pale ferrugineous red; the pronotal rugae are delicate and comparatively sparse so that the highly shining surface is well revealed; and the posterior corners of the head are strongly shining and free of sculpture. This combination of characters defines the "typical" desertorum as it occurs in western Texas and in comparable areas of Mexico. With westward progression there is a gradual intensification and some addition of pronotal rugae, so that smaller areas of the shining body surface are exposed. Coincident with this transition is a deepening of body color and a reduction in extent of the smooth and shining corners of the head. In the extreme western portion of the range of destertorum, the pronotal rugae are more numerous and coarser; and the cephalic rugae have encroached for such a considerable distance into the posterior corners of the head that some workers of a nest series may have these parts almost completely covered with very fine rugae which are sufficiently dense to obscure almost entirely the shining surface. These features, together with a rather deep ferrugineous red hue, prevail in collections from stations near Gila Bend, Arizona, and Needles, California.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

United States: western Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona. Mexico: northern Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Durange, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 35.7025° to 17.881419°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

Habitat

Chihuahuan Desert in rocky or sandy soils, including dunes. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Biology

The ants nest in sand or very sandy soil in open areas and construct circular craters of the same material. The workers move slowly, forage on trails at a steady gait, and frequently have the gaster turned downward as though they were laying a chemical trail. When disturbed at the nest they retreat and crawl beneath covering material if available. They are extremely docile; I have never been able to elicit an attack response. In fact, desertorum is probably the most inoffensive species of all North American members of its subgenus. (Cole 1968)

Castes

Worker

MCZ-ENT00020576 Pogonomyrmex desertorum hef.jpgMCZ-ENT00020576 Pogonomyrmex desertorum hal.jpgMCZ-ENT00020576 Pogonomyrmex desertorum had.jpgMCZ-ENT00020576 Pogonomyrmex desertorum lbs.jpgMCZ-ENT00020578 Pogonomyrmex desertarum var ferrugineus hef.jpgMCZ-ENT00020578 Pogonomyrmex desertarum var ferrugineus hal.jpgMCZ-ENT00020578 Pogonomyrmex desertarum var ferrugineus had.jpgMCZ-ENT00020578 Pogonomyrmex desertarum var ferrugineus lbs.jpg
. Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Images from AntWeb

Pogonomyrmex desertorum casent0005707 head 1.jpgPogonomyrmex desertorum casent0005707 dorsal 1.jpgPogonomyrmex desertorum casent0005707 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0005707. 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.

  • desertorum. Pogonomyrmex desertorum Wheeler, W.M. 1902c: 387 (w.) U.S.A. Cole, 1968: 67 (q.m.); Taber, Cokendolpher & Francke, 1988: 51 (k.). Senior synonym of ferrugineus: Cole, 1968: 65.
  • ferrugineus. Pogonomyrmex desertorum var. ferrugineus Olsen, 1934: 506 (w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of desertorum: Creighton, 1950a: 124. Junior synonym of desertorum: Cole, 1968: 65.

Type Material

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 1.37-2.01 mm, HW 1.38-2.16 mm, CI 100.7-107.5, SL 1.10-1.45 mm, SI 67.1-79.7, EL 0.38-0.46 mm, EW 0.23-0.27 mm, OI 22.8-27.8, WL 1.60-2.28 mm, PNL 0.42-0.57 mm, PNW 0.30-0.53 mm, PPL 0.38-0.46 mm, PPW 0.49-0.65 mm.

Mandible as shown in Pl. III, Fig. 14; teeth short, blunt, robust; apical tooth distinctly longer than subapical; first four basal teeth subequal in length, ultimate basal tooth a little shorter and narrower than or subequal to penultimate basal and not set off from the broadly convex basal mandibular margin.

Base of antennal scape as illustrated in Pl. IV, Fig. 16; curvature of shaft rather strong, even, confined mostly to basal half; shaft rather strongly constricted and somewhat flattened along strongest part of bend. Basal enlargement considerably reduced (as compared with that of barbatus), trumpet-shaped; superior declivity long, somewhat concave, not steep; apex of superior lobe acute; superior and inferior lobes subequal in size. Lip moderately thick, curved distad, not so massive as that of barbatus or apache, not bipartite. Longitudinal peripheral carina weak or absent. Point faint or absent. Basal flange straight, thin, continuing to apex of superior lobe. Basal impression moderately developed.

Cephalic rugae longitudinal, very dense, very fine, very closely spaced, producing a silky luster; interrugal spaces subopaque or somewhat shining, finely punctate, the punctures in single rows. Posterior corners of head mostly smooth and shining, sometimes faintly striate.

Contour, in lateral view, of thorax, petiole, and post petiole as shown in Pl. V, Fig. 3; epinotum armed with a pair of well-developed, rather slender spines which are generally long, but may be short or of medium length, notably broader basally than apically, sharp. Petiolar peduncle with a strong, rather blunt, spinelike, ventral process continued posteriorly as a translucent longitudinal carina, the two bearing 3 to 5 prominent, ventrally directed hairs. Anterior declivity of peliolar node meeting the peduncle at a weak, generally well-rounded angle; dorsum of petiolar node weakly convex. Ventral process of postpetiole weak, blunt. Contour, in dorsal view, of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes as illustrated in Pl. VII, Fig. 22. Thoracic rugae less delicate and less closely spaced than of pronotum and mesonotum, transverse elsewhere; finer and more closely spaced on propleura; interrugal spaces finely punctate or reticulate, subopaque or shining. Petiolar node finely punctate and transversely, unevenly striate or rugulose; interrugal spaces somewhat shining. Postpetiolar node densely and finely punctate, faintly and irregularly striate on posterior portion, the surface slightly shining. Gaster finely shagreened, smooth, shining.

Body color varying from pale ferrugineous red with or without a darker gaster to dark ferrugineous red with posterior margin of each gastric segment strongly infuscated.

Queen

Cole (1968) - HL 1.71-2.01 mm, HW 1.94-2.13 mm. CI 113.1-120.9, SL 1.14-1.60 mm, SI 58.7-65.9, EL 0.46-0.53 mm, EW 0.30-0.38 mm. OI 26.3-26.9, WL 2.55-3.19 mm, PNL 0.38-0.53 mm, PNW 0.53-0.66 mm, PPL 0.53-0.56 rum, PPW 0.84-0.95 mm.

Conformation of base of antennal scape similar to that of worker. Cephalic rugae delicate, dense, closely spaced, not at all diverging toward posterior corners of head; interrugal spaces shining, very faintly and finely punctate; posterior corners of head smooth and shining.

Pronotum with delicate, irregularly spaced, rather dense striae; rugae on scutum dense, fine, closely spaced, longitudinal; scutellum with sparse, fine, longitudinal striae, mostly limited to lateral portions, midregion very smooth and shining; meso- and meta thoracic pleura with dense, fine, longitudinal rugulae; epinotum with rugae transverse, irregularly and somewhat more widely spaced; interrugal spaces shining, faintly and finely punctate. Epinotum armed with a pair of short, sharp spines that are much broader basally than apically. Anterior declivity of petiolar node meeting peduncle at a broad angle; apex of node blunt, the dorsum, in lateral view, broadly convex; petiolar peduncle with a prominent, angulate, longitudinally elongate, ventral process which bears 8 to 10 moderately long, straight, slender, ventrally directed hairs; dorsum of petiolar node with a few, sparse, uneven rugae with a transverse trend, the surface moderately shining, very finely punctate. Ventral process of post petiole weakly developed. Postpetiolar node rather smooth and shining, finely punctate, bearing sparse, irregular, transverse rugulae restricted to posterior portion. Gaster without perceptible sculpture at a magnification of 90X.

Color varying from a rather uniform, light to dark, ferrugineous red.

Male

Cole (1968) - HL 1.33-1.48 mm, HW 1.60-1.80 mm, CI 120.3-121.3, SL 0.65-0.66 mm, SI 36.9-40.6, EL 0.45-0.61, mm, EW 0.30-0.34 mm, OI 33.8-4l.2, WL 2.37-2.67 mm, PNL 0.49-0.57 mm, PNW 0.61-0.72 mm, PPL 0.49-0.53 mm, PPW 0.81-0.95 mm.

Mandible as shown in Pl. VIII, Fig. 13; characterized by a rather poorly defined, oblique, masticatory margin which meets the basal margin at a pronounced, even convexity; entire composite margin, from base of blade to basalmost tooth, evenly and broadly convex; distal portion of apical margin straight, proximal part distinctly concave; masticatory margin with a broad, subacute tooth and 4 irregular, poorly defined additional teeth. Cephalic rugae very fine, closely spaced, dense, becoming sparser and more widely spaced on vertex, fading out on occiput, subcrescentic above the eyes, absent from occipital corners which are smooth and shining and bear small piligerous punctures; interrugal spaces of head smooth, shining, without punctures.

Entire thorax mostly very smooth and shining; scutum with faint, sparse striae limited chiefly to posterior portion where they converge medioposteriorly; mesothoracic sternites with numerous, fine, irregular, broken, longitudinal striae; mesothoracic epimera with a few, distinct, elongate foveae. Epinotum armed with a pair of very weak tubercles. Petiole and post petiole very smooth and shining; sides of petiolar node with sparse, elongate, piligerous foveae. Gaster very smooth and shining, not shagreened. Paramere as shown in Pl. X, Fig. 13 and Pl. XI, Fig. 14.

Syntype Specimen Labels

Head and thorax deep brownish black; petiole, post petiole, and especially the gaster much lighter.

Karyotype

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • 2n = 32 (USA) (Taber et al., 1988).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bestelmeyer B. T., and J. A. Wiens. 2001. Local and regional-scale responses of ant diversity to a semiarid biome transition. Ecography 24: 381-392.
  • Cole, A.C. 1968. Pogonomyrmex harvester ants: A study of the genus in North America. University of Tennesee Press. Knoxville
  • Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
  • Johnson R. A., and C. S. Moreau. 2016. A new ant genus from southern Argentina and southern Chile, Patagonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4139: 1-31.
  • Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
  • Kaspari, M. and T.J. Valone. 2002. On Ectotherm Abundance in a Seasonal Environment-Studies of a Desert Ant Assemblage. Ecology 83(11):2991-2996
  • Kusnezov N. 1951. El género Pogonomyrmex Mayr (Hym., Formicidae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana 11: 227-333.
  • Mackay, W.P., E.E. Mackay, J.F. Perez Dominguez, L.I. Valdez Sanchez and P.V. Orozco. 1985. Las hormigas del estado de Chihuahua Mexico: El genero Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) . Sociobiology 11(1):39-54
  • Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
  • Mallis A. 1941. A list of the ants of California with notes on their habits and distribution. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 40: 61-100. 
  • McDonald D. L., D. R. Hoffpauir, and J. L. Cook. 2016. Survey yields seven new Texas county records and documents further spread of Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Southwestern Entomologist, 41(4): 913-920.
  • 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.
  • Nash M. S., W. G. Whitford, J. Van Zee, and K. M. Havstad. 2000. Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) responses to environmental stressors in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert. Environ. Entomol, 29(2): 200-206.
  • 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.
  • Parker, J.D. and S.W. Rissing. 2002. Molecular Evidence for the Origin of Workerless Social Parasites in the Ant Genus Pogonomyrmex. Evolution 56(10):2017-2028
  • Roeder K. A., and D. V. Roeder. 2016. A checklist and assemblage comparison of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Check List 12(4): 1935.
  • Smith M. R. 1935. A list of the ants of Oklahoma (Hymen.: Formicidae). Entomological News 46: 235-241.
  • Taber S. W., J. C. Cokendolpher, and O. F. Francke. 1988. Karyological study of North American Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 35: 47-60.
  • Van Pelt, A. 1983. Ants of the Chisos Mountains, Texas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) . Southwestern Naturalist 28:137-142.
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
  • Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler J. 1989. A checklist of the ants of Oklahoma. Prairie Naturalist 21: 203-210.
  • 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.
  • Whitford W. G. 1978. Structure and seasonal activity of Chihuahua desert ant communities. Insectes Sociaux 25(1): 79-88.
  • Whitford W. G., J. Van Zee, M. S. Nash, W. E. Smth, and J. E. Herrick. 1999. Ants as indicators of exposure to environmental stressors in North American desert grasslands. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 54: 143–171.
  • Young J., and D. E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publication. Oklahoma Agricultural Experimental Station 71: 1-42.
  • Young, J. and D.E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publications of Oklahoma State University MP-71
Retrieved from "https://antwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Pogonomyrmex_desertorum&oldid=720459"