Crematogaster punctulata

These ants nest in soil or under stones and logs. Brood has been found in August, sexuals were found from August to September. Flights were reported in May (Wheeler, 1908) at 11:00 MST. Foragers tend membracids on sunflowers, as well as coccids and aphids. They commonly forage on chollo (Opuntia sp.). Two nests where found together with Lasius sitiens. (Gregg, 1963, MacKay & Mackay, 2002)

Distribution
In New Mexico these ants have been found in mesquite forest (including dunes), pinyon pine, juniper forests shinnery oak forest, cottonwood forests, grasslands.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster punctulata Emery, 1895c: 287 (w.) U.S.A. (Colorado).
 * Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 925); paralectotype workers (number not stated).
 * [Note: Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 336, record 30 syntype workers.]
 * Type-locality: lectotype U.S.A.: Colorado (no further data) (Pergande).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG (lectotype); MHNG, MSNG, NHMW (paralectotypes).
 * Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 332 (q.m.).
 * Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 141;
 * combination in C. (Crematogaster): Buren, 1968b: 92.
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 479; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 564; Emery, 1922e: 141; Essig, 1926: 859; Smith, M.R. 1930a: 4; Dennis, 1938: 284.
 * Subspecies of opaca: Wheeler, W.M. 1919g: 111; Smith, M.R. 1927: 310; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 810.
 * Subspecies of lineolata: Creighton, 1950a: 214.
 * Junior synonym of lineolata: Johnson, C. 1988: 319.
 * Status as species: Enzmann, J. 1946c: 93; Buren, in Smith, M.R. 1958c: 127; Carter, 1962a: 6 (in list); Beck, et al. 1967: 69; Smith, M.R. 1967: 356; Buren, 1968b: 92, 93 (in key); Hunt & Snelling, 1975: 21; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1380; DuBois & LaBerge, 1988: 138; Mackay, Lowrie, et al. 1988: 88 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 160; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 100; Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 330 (redescription); Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 925.
 * Senior synonym of texana: Creighton, 1950a: 214; Buren, in Smith, M.R. 1958c: 127; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1380; Bolton, 1995b: 164; Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 925.
 * Distribution: Mexico, U.S.A.
 * texana. Crematogaster (Acrocoelia) opaca var. texana Santschi, 1929f: 91 (w.) U.S.A. (Texas).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: U.S.A: Texas, Farming County, Bonham, 25.vii.1922 (E. & G. Wheeler).
 * Type-depository: NHMB.
 * Subspecies of opaca: Enzmann, J. 1946c: 94.
 * Unidentifiable taxon, incertae sedis in Pheidole: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 810.
 * Junior synonym of lineolata: Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 222.
 * Junior synonym of punctulata: Creighton, 1950a: 214; Buren, in Smith, M.R. 1958c: 127; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1380; Bolton, 1995b: 164; Ward & Blaimer, 2022: 925.
 * thoracica. Crematogaster (Orthocrema) minutissima subsp. thoracica Creighton, 1939b: 138 (w.) U.S.A. (Arizona).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, paratype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: holotype U.S.A.: Arizona, Huachuca Mts, Miller Canyon, 6000 ft (W.M. Mann); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); AMNH, LACM, MCZC (paratypes).
 * [Junior primary homonym of Crematogaster (Atopogyne) africana st. thoracica Santschi, 1921c: 118.]
 * Replacement name: Crematogaster (Orthocrema) minutissima subsp. smithi Creighton, 1950a: 205.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Morgan C., and W. P. Mackay. 2017. The North America acrobat ants of the hyperdiverse genus Crematogaster. Mauritius: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 540 pp.