Interactions with Plants
From seed foraging to plant removal. Pogos
interacting with the plant life around them, in North America.
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Pogonomyrmex salinus
● Wananpum Rec. Area [Kittitas Co], WA USA [el. 190 m/623 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 6/4/09 10:25AM sunny, air temp: 29°C / 85°F
Running frantically over the hot sand, a P. salinus worker carries an Indian rice grass (Achnatherum hymenoides) seed back to her nest. The seeds of this plant apparently serve as a significant source of nutrition for the Pogos at this location.
At the time this image was captured, the soil surface temperature had already reached 50.5°C / 123°F, and only a few ants were still active - most had retreated to the relatively cool nest interior. [scroll down for additional notes/references]
ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:
We usually see all Pogonomyrmex salinus activity cease when the soil surface temperature reaches approx. 55°C / 131°F. It is not unusual for the ground temperature to reach these levels in July and August, as solar radiation heats the sand/soil/gravel - even though the air temperature may only be in the mid 80s°F. When the weather is very warm, it is typical for Pogos to be inactive, and to remain within the nest from late morning, until late afternoon. In a 1965 study, workers of this species, taken from their nest and placed on sand with a surface temp. of 58°C / 136°F, were observed to perish within 30 seconds.
·Willard, J.R. & H.H. Crowell. 1965. Biological Activities of the Harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex owyheei, in Central Oregon. Journal of Economic Entomology Vol.58, No.3
pogopogonomyrmexpogonomyrmex salinusants interacting with plantsmacroharvester ants
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