Pogonomyrmex rastratus

Identification
Key to South American Pogonomyrmex

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Diet
Dietary preferences of these seed harvesting ants have been studied in the Monte Desert (Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán ), Argentina (see Pirk et. al 2011). In choice tests this species preferred seeds of grass species to those of forbs and shrub.

Nomenclature

 *  rastratus. Pogonomyrmex rastratus Mayr, 1868b: 171 (w.) ARGENTINA. Mayr, 1887: 611 (m.). Senior synonym of neuquensis, weiseri: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252. Current subspecies: nominal plus pulchellus.
 * neuquensis. Pogonomyrmex weiseri var. neuquensis Santschi, 1922d: 243 (w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of rastratus: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252.
 * weiseri. Pogonomyrmex weiseri Santschi, 1922b: 348 (w.q.m.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of rastratus: Kusnezov, 1951a: 252.