Swarm-mating

Guides

• Pheidole desertorum

  Desert Big-headed Ant

  Pheidole desertorum is a desert-dwelling ant in the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, characterized by large colony sizes and pronounced worker polymorphism. Colonies contain 2,460–24,814 adult workers, making them exceptionally large for the genus. The species exhibits nocturnal foraging during summer months and employs multiple nests as an anti-predator defense strategy. Mating occurs following summer rainfall, with males forming aerial swarms prior to sunrise. Colony foundation is typically haplometrotic, though pleometrotic associations with workers occur.

  antsformicidaemyrmicinaepheidoledesertgrasslandnocturnalpolymorphicbig-headed-antnative-speciesarthropod-predatormultiple-nestshaplodiploidswarm-matingreplete-caste