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Pogonomyrmex rastratus
| Pogonomyrmex rastratus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Pogonomyrmecini |
| Genus: | Pogonomyrmex |
| Species group: | rastratus |
| Species: | P. rastratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pogonomyrmex rastratus Mayr, 1868
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Field experiments studying foraging in P. rastratus were conducted in the Monte Desert, Argentina (Pol et al. 2015). Pogonomyrmex rastratus are solitary foragers. The sum of their foraging efforts, in terms of the area covered, suggests their nest surroundings are continuously and thoroughly explored for food. Pogonomyrmex rastratus primarily collect grass seeds from spring to autumn but can be somewhat flexible. When seeds are scarce, the proportion of non-grass seeds items in their diet increases. Colony size is modest, from 300 - 1100 workers.
Identification
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -25.06777778° to -42.666°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina (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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Diet
Dietary preferences of these seed harvesting ants have been studied in the Monte Desert (Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán 34°03′S 67°54′W / 34.05°S 67.9°W), Argentina (see Pirk et. al 2011). In choice tests this species preferred seeds of grass species to those of forbs and shrub.
Castes
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Paralectotype of Pogonomyrmex weiseri. Worker. Specimen code casent0173343. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
   
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| Lectotype of Pogonomyrmex rastratus. Worker. Specimen code casent0173352. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMW, Vienna, Austria. |
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0173353. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMW, Vienna, Austria. |
   
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| Lectotype of Pogonomyrmex carbonarius. Worker. Specimen code casent0173355. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMW, Vienna, Austria. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- rastratus. Pogonomyrmex rastratus Mayr, 1868b: 171 (w.) ARGENTINA. Mayr, 1887: 611 (m.). Senior synonym of neuquensis, weiseri: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252.
Description
References
- Aranda-Rickert, A., Fracchia, S. 2012. La biología de Pogonomyrmex cunicularius pencosensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en relación con su comportamiento como dispersora de semillas con eleosoma en el Noroeste semiárido argentino. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 71 (1-2): 11-27.
- Johnson, R.A. 2021. A taxonomic revision of South American species of the seed-harvester ant genus Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Part II. Zootaxa 5033, 1–230 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5033.1.1).
- Kusnezov, N. 1951e. El género Pogonomyrmex Mayr (Hym., Formicidae). Acta Zool. Lilloana 11: 227-333 (page 252, Senior synonym of neuquensis and weisei)
- Mayr, G. 1868b. Formicidae novae Americanae collectae a Prof. P. de Strobel. Annu. Soc. Nat. Mat. Modena 3: 161-178 (page 171, worker described)
- Mayr, G. 1887. Südamerikanische Formiciden. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 37: 511-632 (page 611, male described)
- Pirk, G. I. and J. L. De Casenave. 2011. Seed Preferences of Three Harvester Ants of the Genus Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Monte Desert: Are They Reflected in the Diet? Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 104:212-220. DOI:10.1603/AN10093
- Pirk, G.I., Casenave, J.L.de 2006. Diet and seed removal rates by the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus and Pogonomyrmex pronotalis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Insectes Sociaux 53, 119–125 (doi:10.1007/s00040-005-0845-6).
- Pol, R. G., J. Lopez de Casenave, and F. A. Milesi. 2015. Foraging strategies and foraging plasticity in harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp., Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the central Monte desert, Argentina. Myrmecological News. 21:1-12.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Behrmann N. B. E., F. A. Milesi, J. Lopez de Casenave, R. G. Pol, and B. Pavan. 2010. Colony size and composition in three Pogonomyrmex ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 69 (1-2): 117-122.
- Bruch C. 1914. Catálogo sistemático de los formícidos argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata 19: 211-234.
- Bruch C. 1916. Contribución al estudio de las hormigas de la provincia de San Luis. Revista del Museo de La Plata 23: 291-357.
- Cheli G. H., J. C. Corley, O. Bruzzone, M. Brío, F. Martínez, N. M. Roman, and I. Ríos. 2010. The ground-dwelling arthropod community of Península Valdés in Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Insect Science 10:50 available online: insectsicence.org/10.50
- Claver S., S. L. Silnik, and F. F. Campon. 2014. Response of ants to grazing disturbance at the central Monte Desert of Argentina: community descriptors and functional group scheme. J Arid Land 6(1): 117?127.
- Claver S., and H. G. Gordon. 1993. The ant fauna (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Nacunan Biosphere reserve. Naturalis Sao Paulo 18: 189-193.
- Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
- Fergnani P. N., P. Sackmann, and A. Ruggiero. 2010. Richness-environment relationships in epigaeic ants across the Subantarctic-Patagonian transition. Insect Conservation and Diversity 3: 278-290.
- Gallardo A. 1932. Las hormigas de la República Argentina. Subfamilia Mirmicinas, segunda sección Eumyrmicinae, tribu Myrmicini (F. Smith), género Pogonomyrmex Mayr. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Buenos Aires 37: 89-170.
- Johnson Robert. 2014. List of South American species of Pogonomyrmex. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/pogonomyrmex/SOUTHAMERICANPOGOS.htm
- Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
- Kusnezov N. 1951. El género Pogonomyrmex Mayr (Hym., Formicidae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana 11: 227-333.
- Nobua Behrmann B. E., F. A. Milesi, J. Lopez de Casenave, R. G. Pol, and B. Pavan. 2010. Colony size and composition in three Pogonomyrmex ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Central Monte desert, Argentina. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 69 (1-2): 117-122.
- Pirk G. I., J. Lopez de Casenave, and R. G. Pol. 2004. Asociacion de las hormigas granivoras Pogonomyrmex pronotalis, P. rastratus y P. inermis con caminos en el Monte central. Ecologia Austral 14: 65-76.
- Pirk, G.I. and J. Lopez de Casenave. 2006. Diet and seed removal rates by the harvester ants Pogonomyrmex rastratus and Pogonomyrmex pronotalis in the central Monte desert, Argentina. Insectes Sociaux 53:119-125
- Santschi F. 1916. Descriptions de fourmis nouvelles d'Afrique et d'Amérique. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 84: 497-513.
- Santschi F. 1922. Myrmicines, dolichodérines et autres formicides néotropiques. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 54: 345-378.