Dolichoderus plagiatus

These ants form relatively small soil-based nests. While foraging workers are often seen on low vegetation, their nests are cryptic and can be challenging to locate.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to North American Dolichoderus workers

Distribution
New Brunswick, Canada westward through Ontario, Manitoba, and North Dakota. Southward in the eastern U.S., the species reaches North and South Carolina and Georgia (Smith, 1979).

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

Habitat
The Southern records show a preference for upland habitats and the species has not been documented in the southern Coastal Plain.

Nomenclature

 *  plagiatus. Hypoclinea plagiata Mayr, 1870b: 960 (w.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 311 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1951: 175 (l.). Combination in Dolichoderus: Mayr, 1886d: 436; in D. (Hypoclinea): Emery, 1894c: 229. Senior synonym of borealis: Emery, 1895c: 330; of inornatus: Creighton, 1950a: 335. See also: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1966: 727; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1416; Johnson, C. 1989a: 3; Mackay, 1993b: 81; Shattuck, 1994: 61.
 * borealis. Dolichoderus borealis Provancher, 1888: 408 (w.) CANADA. Junior synonym of plagiatus: Emery, 1895c: 330.
 * inornatus. Dolichoderus plagiatus var. inornatus Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 313 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of plagiatus: Creighton, 1950a: 335.

Worker
Johnson (1989) - This ant has a mottled color pattern compared to the other species. The mandibles and head are dark brown to near-black, paler in callow specimens. The antennae, alitrunk; legs and petiole are brown-orange; dorsum of the alitrunk becoming dark brown in older specimens. There are laterally-spaced spots of pale brownish-orange on the first and second segments of gaster; the remainder of gaster is dark brown.

Structurally, head and complete dorsum of alitrunk are sculptured with well-defined depressions or foveolae. The pronotum is sculptured as strongly as the mesonotum, a definitive feature for this species. Granulation of the alitrunk occurs within the depressions and the surface is essentially opaque; the reflectivity of cuticle broken into small, disjunct regions. A fine granulation occurs on the petiole, and the integument of the gaster is smooth and shining. Erect hairs are numerous on head and alitrunk; a few scattered erect hairs occur on gaster, and there are short, fine erect hairs on scapes. In dorsal view, length of propodeum exceeds its width. Integument within concavity of the declivous face of propodeum is smooth and highly reflective.

Type Material
Type locality - Illinois.