Crematogaster californica

Mackay and Mackay (2002) - Nests are found at the bases of plants and in chollas (although Buren [1968] stated that it did not nest in cactus), or under stones (one nest at high elevation was under a log). Brood was found in nests in March. This ant tends coccids and aphids. One colony was nesting together with a species of Camponotus. (Mallis, 1941; Wheeler and Wheeler, 1973)

Distribution
Southern California, Nevada, Baja California and New Mexico.

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

Habitat
Arid areas, including grasslands (grama) and desert scrub (creosote) up to pinyon-juniper forests, Chihuahua pine and oak forests up to 2350 meters elevation. One nest was in a ponderosa pine, Douglas fir forest, but this is an unusual habitat for this species. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - We have 6 records from 5 localities; all in the Hot Desert (1 in a Sarcobatus Subclimax); 2 were nesting under desert pavement; 1 was in the base of an Atriplex plant; 1 in a sand dune under a large horizontal stem of an old larrea.

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster laeviuscula var. californica Wheeler, W.M. 1919g: 111.
 * Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 909).
 * [Note: original description cites 2 syntype workers.]
 * Type-locality: lectotype U.S.A.: California, Los Angeles (no collector’s name) (by restriction of Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 909).
 * [Note: other original syntype locality: U.S.A.: California, Encinitas (no collector’s name). Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 911, report that this specimen is not in MHNG or MSNG.]
 * Type-depository: MSNG (lectotype).
 * [First available use of Crematogaster lineolata subsp. laeviuscula var. californica Emery, 1895c: 285 (w.) U.S.A. (California); unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Buren, 1968b: 94.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 564; Emery, 1922e: 141; Essig, 1926: 859.
 * Subspecies of lineolata: Wheeler, W.M. 1934f: 135; Wheeler, W.M. 1935g: 22.
 * Subspecies of laeviuscula: Enzmann, J. 1946c: 93.
 * Junior synonym of coarctata: Creighton, 1950a: 207; Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 105.
 * Status as species: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 808; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 125; Buren, 1968b: 94 (in key); Smith, D.R. 1979: 1377; Snelling, R.R. & George, 1979:121; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 47; Bolton, 1995b: 149; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 86; Ward, 2005: 65; Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 909.
 * Distribution: Mexico, U.S.A.