California harvester ant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California harvester ant |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| P. californicus worker from Arizona | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Myrmicinae
|
| Tribe: |
Myrmicini
|
| Genus: |
Pogonomyrmex
|
| Species: |
P. californicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pogonomyrmex californicus Cole, 1968
|
|
The Pogonomyrmex californicus, also known as the California harvester ant, is a type of ant. These ants are found naturally in North America. You can spot them in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Many people know this ant because it is often used in Uncle Milton's Ant Farm kits.
Contents
Life of a Harvester Ant
California harvester ants like to live in open, warm, and sandy places. They usually search for food during the day. They might hunt alone or work together in long lines, like a parade.
These ants eat small creatures called Arthropods. For example, they might catch the larvae of the raisin moth. They also collect many different kinds of seeds. A single colony can have hundreds of ants living together.
Their nests often have an unusual entrance shape. Loose sand is usually piled up in a circle or half-circle around the opening. New ants are born around July, when the colony is ready to reproduce.
Ant Colonies with Many Queens
Most ant colonies have only one queen ant. She is the mother of almost all the ants in the colony. But sometimes, California harvester ants form special colonies. These colonies can have more than one queen working together. This is called pleometrosis. It means several queens cooperate to start and grow the colony.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the California harvester ant in many places. Their homes stretch from Texas all the way to Utah. They also live in parts of Mexico, including Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua.
Chumash People and the Ants
Long ago, the Chumash people of California had a special connection with these ants. They sometimes used the California harvester ant in important ceremonies. These ceremonies were part of teaching young boys about growing up. The ants were used in a symbolic way during these special events.
