Forelius mccooki

This species nests in the soil, with the entrance surrounded by a small mound (few cms diameter); it also nests under stones. Nests may be found at the bases of desert plants. Reproductives were found in nests in June and July. This species has multiple queens in their nests. Workers are group foragers, which can be found in rapidly moving groups early in the hot afternoon when no other ants are active. Foragers capture living insects, feed on dead insects and collect nectar from a variety of desert plants ranging from the small, prostate Euphorbia spp. to foraging in the flowers of cholla (Opuntia spp). They also nest at the edges of Pogonomyrmex rugosus nests. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to US Forelius workers

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

Habitat
Most common in arid habitats, but also occurs in mesic sites ranging from grasslands to cottonwood forests. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Nomenclature

 * foetida. Formica foetida Buckley, 1866: 167 (w.q.) U.S.A. Crozier, 1970: 113 (k.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1974b: 401 (l.). [Junior primary homonym of Formica foetida Linnaeus, 1758: 582 (now in Pachycondyla).] Replacement name: mccooki McCook, 1879: 187.
 *  mccooki. Iridomyrmex mccooki McCook, 1880: 187 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of foetida Buckley: Wheeler, W.M. 1901b: 520 and hence first available replacement name for Formica foetida Buckley, 1866: 167. [Junior primary homonym of Formica foetida Linnaeus, 1758: 582.] [Iridomyrmex maccooki Forel, 1878: 382. Nomen nudum.] Mayr, 1886d: 432 (q.m.); Forel, 1886b: xxxix (w.). Combination in Forelius: Emery, 1888d: 389. Senior synonym of andrei: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1419. See also: Cuezzo, 2000: 249; Ward, 2005: 9.
 * andrei. Forelius maccooki r. andrei Forel, 1912h: 44 (w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of foetidus: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 836. Junior synonym of foetidus: Wheeler, W.M. 1901b: 520; of mccooki: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1419.
 * maccooki. Iridomyrmex maccooki Forel, 1886b: xxxix (w.) U.S.A. (Texas).
 * [Iridomyrmex maccooki Forel, 1878: 382. Nomen nudum.]
 * Status as species: Forel, 1895b: 110; Forel, 1899c: 102; Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 131; Emery, 1906c: 176; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 569; Forel, 1912h: 43; Gallardo, 1916a: 78; Cole, 1937b: 137; Wheeler, W.M. 1938: 252; Shattuck, 1994: 94 (error).
 * Junior homonym and junior synonym of mccooki McCook, 1880: 187.