Crematogaster opuntiae

These ants nest in cholla cactus, especially Opuntia fulgida. Nests are also found in the soil or under stones or in rotten wood, including under the bark of a standing, dead tree, and in limbs of oaks (Quercus sp.). Brood was found from March to October, sexuals in nests in July - September. The crickets Myrmecophila sp. occur in nests. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
This species can be recognized by a single pair of hairs on the pronotal shoulder, and usually no other erect hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma. The head is mostly shiny, the mesosoma coarsely punctate. The hemilobes of the postpetiole are blunt posteriorly. The pubescence on the head and scapes is mostly appressed. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Arizona, southern Nevada, southeastern California, south into northern Mexico.

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

Habitat
Mackay and Mackay (2002) - Chihuahuan Desert scrub and grasslands (especially grama grass), as well as transitional areas with the Sonoran Desert, up into pinyon-juniper forests, oak forests and ponderosa pine forests (up to 1380 meters elevation).

Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - We have 4 records from 3 localities, all in the Hot Desert. We found 1 nest at the base of an Ephedra plant; our other 2 records were workers in the soil at the base of desert shrubs.

Nomenclature

 *  opuntiae. Crematogaster (Crematogaster) opuntiae Buren, 1968b: 120 (w.) U.S.A.