Dolichoderus pustulatus

Distinguished from congeners Dolichoderus mariae and Dolichoderus taschenbergi by smaller colony size and nest architecture. The shallow punctation on the head and propodeum, combined with the smooth reflective gaster and specific propodeal proportions, separate it from similar species. Geographic color variation can cause confusion with other brown dolichoderine ants; punctation pattern and propodeal shape provide consistent characters.

Workers show clinal color variation: in the southern range, head, antennae, metasoma, and legs are orangish-brown with a darker gaster, sometimes with pale spots on the first and second gastral segments; antennae and legs darken with age. Northern populations are more uniformly reddish-brown to dark brown. The dorsum of the head, metasoma, and propodeum bear shallow puncture marks. The propodeum dorsum is approximately 1.5 times longer than wide. The petiole and gaster have smooth, reflective integument. Short hairs present near the gaster apex and on legs; body otherwise largely hairless.

Occupies fens, prairies, glades, and woodland edges. Nests constructed in soil among plant roots, either hidden under leaf litter or enclosed in thin-walled carton built around grass blades.

Eastern North America: Nova Scotia westward to Illinois and Oklahoma, south to Florida and Mississippi. Range lies east of the Rocky Mountains, spanning northern United States and southern Canada.

Colonies construct nests using chewed vegetable matter formed into thin carton walls around grass blades, or nest under leaf litter. Nest entrances are short tubular structures of carton material resembling small teapots. Colonies are smaller than those of Dolichoderus mariae and Dolichoderus taschenbergi.

• Dolichoderus mariaeLarger colony size; similar habitat but distinguishable by nest characteristics and colony demography
• Dolichoderus taschenbergiLarger colony size; similar habitat but distinguishable by nest characteristics and colony demography

• ant
• formicidae
• dolichoderinae
• north america
• wetland
• prairie

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• A Gathering of Entomologists; UC Davis Graduate Students Are Major Important Part | Bug Squad
• Dolichoderus quadripiunctatus Archives - Entomology Today
• Burying Beetles Are Part of Nature's Clean-up Crew
• Video Shows U.S. Customs Agents Screening for Invasive Insect Pests