Pogonomyrmex carbonarius

This species can be common along the sides of roads in northern Patagonia.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Biology
Aput et al. (2019) assessed how prevelant introduced plant seeds were in the diet of this seed harvester. A field trial showed the ants foraged in two daily bouts (morning and evening), and introduced species made up a small percentage of the seeds they gathered. Pogonomyrmex carbonarius foragers showed a clear preference for the native grass Pappostipa speciosa (Trin. & Rupr.) in preference trials that included both native and introduced plant seeds.

Nomenclature

 *  carbonarius. Pogonomyrmex carbonarius Mayr, 1868b: 172 (w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of rastratus: Mayr, 1887: 611; Dalla Torre, 1893: 119. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of rastratus: Emery, 1906c: 157; Gallardo, 1932b: 136. Revived status as species: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251. Current subspecies: nominal plus sanmartini.