Pogonomyrmex rastratus

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.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Diet
Dietary preferences of these seed harvesting ants have been studied in the Monte Desert (Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán ), Argentina (see Pirk et. al 2011). In choice tests this species preferred seeds of grass species to those of forbs and shrub.

Nomenclature

 *  rastratus. Pogonomyrmex rastratus Mayr, 1868b: 171 (w.) ARGENTINA. Mayr, 1887: 611 (m.). Senior synonym of neuquensis, weiseri: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252. Current subspecies: nominal plus pulchellus.
 * neuquensis. Pogonomyrmex weiseri var. neuquensis Santschi, 1922d: 243 (w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of rastratus: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252.
 * weiseri. Pogonomyrmex weiseri Santschi, 1922b: 348 (w.q.m.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of rastratus: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252.

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.