Nest-engineer

Guides

• Pogonomyrmex californicus subnitidus

  Pogonomyrmex californicus subnitidus is a subspecies of the California harvester ant, a seed-collecting ant native to arid regions of western North America. Like other harvester ants, it constructs conspicuous nest disks cleared of vegetation and plays significant ecological roles as a seed predator, soil engineer, and food source for vertebrate predators. The species possesses a powerful sting used defensively against mammalian threats. This subspecies is part of a taxon increasingly recognized as a keystone species in desert ecosystems rather than an agricultural pest.

  harvester-antseed-predationkeystone-speciesdesert-ecologymyrmecochorystinging-antnest-engineersoil-fertilityIndigenous-useecosystem-engineer

• Pogonomyrmex desertorum

  Desert Harvester Ant, large seed harvesting ant

  Pogonomyrmex desertorum, commonly known as the Desert Harvester Ant or large seed harvesting ant, is a species of harvester ant native to arid regions of Mexico and the southwestern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a seed-collecting ant that plays important ecological roles in desert ecosystems through seed harvesting and nest construction. The species was described by Wheeler in 1902.

  seed-harvesterdesert-antstinging-antkeystone-speciesmyrmecochorynest-engineer