Crematogaster cerasi

In Florida, specimens have been taken only in xeric upland habitats while northward, collections exist from mesic woodlands and margins of cultivated fields. Nests are generally in or under fallen logs or stumps, not in arboreal conditions. (Johnson 1988)

Identification
Johnson 1988 - Fine longitudinal ridges or striations on thoracic dorsum usually short and discontinuous, the intervening cuticle rough, granulate. Some specimens have well-expressed striations with smooth intervening cuticle; others have reduced striations and conspicuously granulose cuticle. Pubescence of head, thorax and gaster appressed; one to three long erect hairs on each humeral shoulder of pronotum. Rarely 1 to 3 short erect hairs about the anterior margin of the propodeum and a like number occasionally intermixed with appressed pubescence of first segment of gaster. Propodeal spines long, SL/DB > 1.0, and spines typically diverge posteriorly relative to longitudinal body axis. Some specimens show less divergence of the spines and have evenly tapered spines rather than undulating margins. These ants are largely bicolored; however, some entirely blackish specimens appear in the Florida collections.

Distribution
Johnson 1988 - Occurs in Quebec, Canada, and most of the northcentral and northeastern U. S. It is an uncommon species in the South; however, records exist for North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida southward to Polk, Hernando and Dade Counties.

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



Habitat
Found in a variety of habitats. In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002): Chihuahuan Desert along mountain slopes, grasslands, pinyon-juniper, oak, sagebrush, ponderosa pine, fir forests, and riparian habitats, up to 2350 meters elevation.

New Mexico
Mackay and Mackay (2002) - Commonly nests under stones, or under a log (1 nest); brood and reproductives were found in nests from May to August. This is one of the most common Crematogaster spp. in mesic and xeric sites in New Mexico. Workers are sometimes aggressive when the nest is disturbed. Foragers are often found on vegetation, especially cholla (Opuntia spp.). This species may be polygynous, as multiple, dealate females are often encountered in nests. Two colonies were nesting with Camponotus festinatus.

Nomenclature

 *  cerasi. Myrmica cerasi Fitch, 1855: 835 (w.) U.S.A.
 * Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973a: 28 (l.).
 * Combination in Crematogaster: Roger, 1863b: 37.
 * Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 141.
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Buren, 1968b: 92.
 * Junior synonym of lineolata: Dalla Torre, 1893: 83; Creighton, 1950a: 213.
 * Revived from synonymy as subspecies of lineolata: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 809.
 * Revived status as species, senior synonym of kennedyi and material of the unavailable name punctinodis referred here: Buren, in Smith, M.R. 1958c: 125. See also: Buren, 1968b: 92; Johnson, C. 1988: 318.
 * Senior synonym of browni: Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 91.
 * kennedyi. Crematogaster (Acrocoelia) kennedyi Wheeler, W.M. 1930e: 58 (q.m.) U.S.A.
 * Junior synonym of cerasi: Buren, in Smith, M.R. 1958c: 126.
 * browni. Crematogaster (Crematogaster) browni Buren, 1968b: 100 (w.q.) U.S.A.
 * Junior synonym of cerasi: Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 91.

Crematogaster browni
Several series are known from Garden Canyon, Huachuca Mts., Ariz.- Wm. S. Creighton, collector; I have marked as the holotype a worker from one of these series and this locality therefore becomes the type locality. I have also marked as paratypes numerous examples from Canelo Pass, Santa Cruz Co., Ariz.- Wm. S. Creighton; Brown Canyon, Baboquiveri Mts.- Creighton; Sierra de San Jose, S. of Naco, Sonora, Mex. - Creighton; Nogales Ranch, Sierra de en Medio, Chihuahua, Mex.- Creighton; several series from the Franklin Mts., El Paso, Tex.- W. F. Buren; Silver City, N. Mex.- Buren; several series from near McDonald Observatory, Davis Mts., Tex.- Buren. The late Dr. L. F. Byars found this species on a number of occasions. His records, which I have also marked as paratypes, are from Montezuma Pass and Sunnyside Road Fork, both in the Huachuca Mts., Ariz.; Calabasas Ridge, Tumacacori Mts., Ariz.; and Sycamore Canyon, near Ruby, Ariz. Dr. Wm. M. Wheeler was the first myrmecologist to capture this species. His records are from the Huachuca Mts., Ariz. in 1910 and from Oracle, Ariz. in 1919 and have been marked as paratypes.

The holotype and representative paratypes are to be deposited in the National Museum. Other para types are to be sent to the Museum of Comparative Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, California Academy of Natural Sciences, to Dr. Creighton's private collection, and to the Cornell University collection. I will retain a few paratypes from each of the series.