Pogonomyrmex is a genus of harvester ants, occurring primarily in the deserts of North, Central, and South America, with three endemic species from Haiti.

Description

The genus name originated from the Greek language and refers to a beard-like structure, the psammophore, below the head (Greek πώγων/pōgōn, "beard" + μύρμηξ/murmēx, "ant"), which can be found in most species of the subgenus sensu stricto. The psammophore is used for gathering small seeds, helping to increase the efficiency of transportation of fine sand and pebbles during nest construction, or to carry eggs. However, this structure is missing in species of the subgenus Ephebomyrmex (Greek ἔφηβος/ephēbos, "beardless lad"), and these species generally have smaller individuals and colonies.

Venom

Pogonomyrmex (sensu stricto) workers have the most toxic venom documented in any insects, with Pogonomyrmex maricopa being the most toxic tested thus far. It has an of only 0.12 mg/kg, compared to western honey bee venom, at 2.8 mg/kg, and comparable to cobra venom. The venom is presumed to be an antivertebrate defense, specifically against predators that have evolved to selectively feed on them such as horned lizards. Very few insects have had the toxicity of their venoms formally tested, and other insects likely have more potent venoms.

Nests

These ants dig very deep nests with many underground chambers in which they keep seeds, from which they derive food for their larvae. The areas around most Pogonomyrmex (sensu stricto) nests tend to be utterly devoid of vegetation, and are easily seen from a distance.

Predation

In addition to horned lizards, predatory wasps in the genus Clypeadon feed only on Pogonomyrmex workers, paralyzing them with their venom, and carrying them back to a burrow where they will serve as food for the wasp's larva.

  • Pogonomyrmex huachucanus <small>Wheeler, 1914</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex humerotumidus <small>Vásquez-Bolaños & Mackay, 2004</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus <small>Wheeler, 1902</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex inermis <small>Forel, 1914</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex kusnezovi <small>Cuezzo & Claver, 2009</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex laevigatus <small>Santschi, 1921</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex laevinodis <small>Snelling, 1982</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex laticeps <small>Santschi, 1922</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex lobatus <small>Santschi, 1921</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex longibarbis <small>Gallardo, 1931</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex magnacanthus <small>Cole, 1968</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex marcusi <small>Kusnezov, 1951</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex maricopa <small>Wheeler, 1914</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex mayri <small>Forel, 1899</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex mendozanus <small>Cuezzo & Claver, 2009</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex montanus <small>MacKay, 1980</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex naegelii <small>Emery, 1878</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex occidentalis <small>(Cresson, 1865)</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex odoratus <small>Kusnezov, 1949</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex pima <small>Wheeler, 1909</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex pronotalis <small>Santschi, 1922</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex rastratus <small>Mayr, 1868</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex rugosus <small>Emery, 1895</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex salinus <small>Olsen, 1934</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex saucius <small>Wheeler & Mann, 1914</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex schmitti <small>Forel, 1901</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex snellingi <small>Taber, 1998</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex stefani <small>Lattke, 2006</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex striatinodus <small>Fernández & Palacio, 1998</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex subdentatus <small>Mayr, 1870</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex subnitidus <small>Emery, 1895</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex sylvestris <small>Lattke, 1991</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex tenuipubens <small>Santschi, 1936</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus <small>Forel, 1914</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex texanus <small>Francke & Merickel, 1982</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex theresiae <small>Forel, 1899</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex uruguayensis <small>Mayr, 1887</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex variabilis <small>Santschi, 1916</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex vermiculatus <small>Emery, 1906</small>
  • Pogonomyrmex wheeleri <small>Olsen, 1934</small>

<gallery>

Pogonomyrmex californicus 2003-05-19.jpg|P. californicus

BARB2.jpg|P. barbatus with psammophore visible

Ants Eating A Caterpillar.jpg|Pogonomyrmex collecting food item

Pogonomyrmex.barbatus.larvae.-.wheeler.svg|Larvae of P. barbatus

</gallery>

References