Harvester Ant
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Genus: | Pogonomyrmex |
Pogonomyrmex is the genus of harvester ants; there are 95 different species of extant harvester ants. [5] Colonies can survive anywhere from 14-50 years and reach up to 10,000 workers. [4] The genus Pogonomyrmex is known for its habit of collecting seeds and other items. These ants are also known for their painful and venomous sting.
Anatomy
The Harvester Ant’s body is divided into three sections; the head, thorax, and abdomen. The ants’ exoskeleton is made of chitin and protects them from the elements and predators. [1] Harvester ants are moderately large with a size ranging between 5 and 10 mm. They are typically reddish-brown, however, some species are closer to brownish-black coloring. [4]
Head
Ants have a set of compound eyes, two antennae, powerful mandibles for carrying, cutting and biting, and maxillary palps to detect scent. [1] Harvester ants have another unique feature; a psammophore. A psammophore is a fringe of hair on the underside of the head that looks like a beard. These “beards” help to excavate nests by acting like a bulldozer. [4]
Thorax
The thorax is the middle segment of the ant and it contains three pairs of legs. The thorax also has a petiole which is the connection between the thorax and the abdomen.
Abdomen
The abdomen contains the ants' vital organs, reproductive parts, and stinger. The acidopore contains formic acid for the ant to emit when it feels threatened. [1] Harvester ants are violent when they feel threatened and their stings are very painful and sometimes dangerous. [5]
Habitat and Range
Pogonomyrmex is native to North, Central, and South America. [5] They construct their nests in the soil, typically in dry and sandy areas that are fully exposed to the sun. [4] They can be 1-10 m in diameter with tunnels that extend down to 5 m or more. [4] The nests can range from having no mound to having a huge mound; the latter tends to be more common. The entrances to the nests are often marked in a special way; by a crater or cone, a pile of stones, or a covering of gravel. [5] In addition, some species clear away all plants and vegetation that surround the outside area of the nest. [5]
Diet and Behavior
Life Cycle
Ecological Impacts
References
[1] Body structure. 2021. . Harvard University. https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/ants/body-structure.
[2] Cranshaw, W. 2010, January 28. Harvester ants . Colorado State University. https://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Harvester_Ants.
[3] Johnson, R. A. 1970, January 1. Independent colony founding by ergatoid queens in the ant genus pogonomyrmex: Queen foraging provides an alternative to dependent colony founding: Semantic scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Independent-colony-founding-by-ergatoid-queens-in-Johnson/853f60e8e139782d87b154967845edcd792585f6.
[4] Pogonomyrmex. 2019. . https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/pogonomyrmex.
[5] Shattuck, S. 2023, April 9. Pogonomyrmex. https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Pogonomyrmex.
[6] Vinson, B. S., and J. Jackman. 2018, August 1. Red Harvester Ant . Texas A&M University. https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insects/red-harvester-ant/.