Taxonomic history
Cole, 1968: 72 (q.); Taber et al., 1988 PDF: 51 (k.).Subspecies of Pogonomyrmex barbatus: Wheeler, 1902a PDF: 98 (in key); Wheeler, 1902d PDF: 391 (in key); Wheeler, 1906i PDF: 341; Wheeler, 1910a PDF: 565; Santschi, 1911d PDF: 5; Emery, 1921c PDF: 46; Essig, 1926 PDF: 860; Olsen, 1934 PDF: 502; Cole, 1937b PDF: 134; Cole, 1942 PDF: 366; Creighton, 1950a PDF: 120; Smith, 1951c PDF: 792; Smith, 1958c PDF: 114.Status as species: Cole, 1966b PDF: 5; Cole, 1968: 70 (redescription); Hunt & Snelling, 1975 PDF: 21; Smith, 1979: 1354; Snelling & George, 1979: 66; Dlussky, 1981b PDF: 48; MacKay, 1981 PDF: 26; MacKay et al., 1985: 50; Wheeler & Wheeler, 1986g PDF: 27; MacKay et al., 1988: 100; Bolton, 1995b: 341; Taber, 1998: 148 (in key); Mackay & Mackay, 2002 PDF: 217; Ward, 2005 PDF: 67.Senior synonym of Pogonomyrmex barbatus curvispinosus: Cole, 1968: 70; Smith, 1979: 1354; Snelling & George, 1979: 66; Bolton, 1995b: 341.Senior synonym of Pogonomyrmex barbatus fuscatus: Cole, 1968: 70; Smith, 1979: 1354; Snelling & George, 1979: 66; Bolton, 1995b: 341.Senior synonym of Pogonomyrmex barbatus marfensis: Cole, 1968: 70; Smith, 1979: 1354; Snelling & George, 1979: 66; Bolton, 1995b: 341.Senior synonym of Pogonomyrmex similis: Creighton, 1950a PDF: 120; Smith, 1958c PDF: 114; Smith, 1979: 1354; Bolton, 1995b: 341.Senior synonym of Pogonomyrmex barbatus spadix: Cole, 1968: 70; Smith, 1979: 1354; Snelling & George, 1979: 66; Bolton, 1995b: 341.
Pogonomyrmex rugosus, the desert harvester ant or rough harvester ant,[2][3] is a species of harvester ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae which is endemic to the southwestern United States,[4] specifically New Mexico[5] and southern Colorado.[6]
P. rugosus colonies can grow to have up to 15,000 workers.[7]
P. rugosus workers use group foraging tactics that involve the creation of permanent pathways (trunk trails). They also use pheromones trails to draw other workers to areas of food-availability.[7]
Two other species of harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex anergismus and Pogonomyrmex colei, have no workers of their own. Instead, they live in the colonies of P. rugosus and Pogonomyrmex barbatus (red harvester ant) and enslave workers to raise reproductive males and females for them.[7]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) Pogonomyrmex rugosus, the desert harvester ant or rough harvester ant, is a species of harvester ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae which is endemic to the southwestern United States, specifically New Mexico and southern Colorado.
