Pogonomyrmex cunicularius

A South American seed harvesting ant found in arid habitats.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.

Biology
This ant was found to be an important seed disperser of Jatropha excisa seeds by Aranda-Rickert and Fracchia (2011). As part of their field study, in the Monte Desert biome of northern Argentina, they found that nests of Pogonomyrmex cunicularius were ~ 60 cm deep with an average of 13 chambers. The entrance to the soil nest were surrounded by a characteristic 20-cm diameter disk made of course soil particles. Worker number per nest averaged around 600 workers (n=6).

Nomenclature

 *  cunicularius. Pogonomyrmex cunicularius Mayr, 1887: 613 (w.m.) ARGENTINA. [Misspelled as cunicularis by Santschi, 1922b: 349 and some subsequent authors.] Senior synonym of brevispinus, carnivora, pencosensis, serpens and material of the unavailable name dubia referred here: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251.
 * pencosensis. Pogonomyrmex cunicularius r. pencosensis Forel, 1914d: 265 (w.m.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of cunicularius: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251.
 * serpens. Pogonomyrmex cunicularis var. serpens Santschi, 1922b: 349 (w.) BOLIVIA. Junior synonym of cunicularius: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251.
 * carnivora. Pogonomyrmex cunicularis var. carnivora Santschi, 1925e: 155, fig. 2 (w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of cunicularius: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1972b: 236. Junior synonym of cunicularius: Bolton, 1995b: 340.
 * brevispinus. Pogonomyrmex cunicularis var. brevispinus Santschi, 1931e: 275 (w. ergatoid q.m.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of cunicularius: Kusnezov, 1951a: 251.