Neivamyrmex nyensis

This small subterranean species is poorly known. Not surprisingly most of these collections were from under partially buried stones; a Glamis sample consists of a single specimen taken from a foraging worker of Forelius mccooki (Forel) and a Lucerne Valley record is based on a head capsule recovered from a refuse midden of Solenopsis xyloni McCook. A Red Cloud Canyon site is in a rocky streambed on the west side of the range, in Creosote/Cactus Scrub desert. The specimens were collected in late afternoon beneath a partially buried stone. There had been rain several days prior to the collection and the soil under the stone was slightly damp. A Havasu Canyon collection was made under similar circumstances. Neivamyrmex nyensis may eventually prove to be the worker form of Neivamyrmex mojave. (Snelling and Snelling 2007)

Identification
Key to the Neivamyrmex species of the United States

These ants are rather small (1.7 to 2.5 mm in length) and light yellow in color.

Distribution
United States: Southern Nevada, Arizona, California; Mexico: Baja California.

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



Biology
This ant species is rather uncommon, it was found at the base of the Coconino Rim along Old Route 64 about 32 kilometers West of Cameron on the Navajo Reservation. A colony was found under a rock at about 7PM. Workers are polymorphic. Colonies were also found on the Navajo Reservation at two separate localities near Dilkon in juniper/pinon habitat.

Worker
Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  nyensis. Neivamyrmex nyensis Watkins, 1977b: 421, figs. 1-4 (w.) U.S.A. See also: Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, R.R., 2007: 486.

Type Material
Nye Co.; Sand 3 mi. E Beatty; coll. G.C. and J. Wheeler #797; 16 April 1970 (not 15 May 1970); 3,500 ft.; on western slope of Bare Mt. in very rocky terrain. The bivouac was under two contiguous slightly buried stones each about 15 x 20 x 30 cm.