RED HARVESTER ANT (Pogonomyrex barbatus)
 Key Biology
- Two nodes
- Workers medium to large in size
- 1/5 to 3/8 inch long
- Uneven thorax
- 12 segments of antenna
- Hairs under chin
- Reddish brown in color
Distribution
- Prefer small seeds, alfalfa, burr clover, Johnson grass, oats, wheat, Bermuda grass, wild sunflowers, and mesquite beans have been found in chambers
- Nests in soil, more common in cultivated land due to availability of food
- Nest is a barren circular area of varying size
- There is one or more pathways leading to surrounding vegetation, becoming less distinct farther away from the nest
- They are a nuisance in lawns and around swellings and corrals-- invariably the ants get on people and animals and inflict painful sting
- Distributed in lower altitudes of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California
|
