Neivamyrmex rugulosus

Snelling and Snelling (2007) - This is a poorly known species, which has been collected in the United States only a handful of times. All of our records are from the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona where it has been collected above the 5000-foot level. Although records are few in the United States it is probable that the species is more widespread than currently indicated, however this appears to be a primarily Mexican species that is at the extreme northern limit of its range in the United States. Little is known of the biology of this species, and the only prey records for it are other ant species: Trachymyrmex arizonensis (LaPolla et al., 2002) and Pheidole desertorum (R. A. Johnson, pers. comm.).

Distribution
United States: Arizona; Mexico: Jalisco, Nayarit, Sonora (Watkins, 1982).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Biology
In the mountains of southern Arizona, two army ant species, Neivamyrmex nigrescens and Neivamyrmex rugulosus, prey on (Miranda et al. 1980, LaPolla et al. 2002). In Tamaulipas, Mexico, Neivamyrmex texanus was observed raiding a colony of Trachymyrmex saussurei (Rabeling & Sanchez-Peña, unpublished data). Based on these few observations, army ants seem to be important predators of at least some Trachymyrmex species, and their raids may result in a significant brood loss and partial destruction of the fungus garden (LaPolla et al. 2002).

Nomenclature

 *  rugulosus. Neivamyrmex rugulosus Borgmeier, 1953: 49 (w.) MEXICO. See also: Borgmeier, 1955: 515; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, R.R., 2007: 490.