Pogonomyrmex anzensis
The Anza Desert Harvester; Pogonomyrmex anzensis in California, USA.
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![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:29PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 1 of 2] Another view of the foraging <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> worker from the previous image. These ants moved at a constant, steady pace as they searched their rocky habitat for food - rarely pausing. This made them quite difficult to photograph.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-wT6crHg/4/542d67b6/L/7532_11_7D-L.jpg)
● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft] map location not yet available » ● 4/06/11 12:29PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F
[Image 1 of 2] Another view of the foraging P. anzensis worker from the previous image. These ants moved at a constant, steady pace as they searched their rocky habitat for food - rarely pausing. This made them quite difficult to photograph.
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:28PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">Deftly Climbing over the large rocks that make up its <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_Panzensis_hab_01Info.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm">rugged habitat</span></a>, this <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> worker searches for seeds and other plant material. <span class ="footnoteTag">[scroll down for additional notes/references]</span>
</div>
<div class="captionRefFootnote">ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:
<em>At this location (Ocotillo Wells V.R.A.), we saw a few foraging workers with tiny unidentified seeds, and other plant parts. At the Pegleg location (see images in this gallery) we saw many workers retrieving the fallen seeds of brittlebush (Encelia farinosa). Like most other members the genus Pogonomyrmex, P.anzensis most likely <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_feedingInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm">supplements</span></a> its intake of plant material by occasionally scavenging dead insects, or other arthropods. We did not observe any scavenging activity, however, at either of the locations we visited in April 2011.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-m7pvD32/2/9745d96f/Ti/7529_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:29PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 1 of 2] Another view of the foraging <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> worker from the previous image. These ants moved at a constant, steady pace as they searched their rocky habitat for food - rarely pausing. This made them quite difficult to photograph.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-wT6crHg/4/542d67b6/Ti/7532_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:29PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 2 of 2] A cropped version of the previous image, showing the <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisFeaturesInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm">cephalic surface sculpture</span></a>, and the 12-segmented antennae of a <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> worker. Hover your mouse cursor over the image, and choose 'X2Large' from the 'View Size' menu for the closest view. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-FPzJVjr/4/2b9d5e60/Ti/7532_11_7Dc-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:37PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 1 of 2] As mentioned earlier, these <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> ants did not stand still, or congregate around the nest entrance - making them very difficult 'moving targets' for imaging. Thankfully, a couple of workers paused for a few moments to engage in some self-grooming behavior. The forelegs were drawn along the length of the antennae, and also inserted between the ants' mandibles. Not visible in these images are the tiny pectinate (comb-like) <em>tibial spurs</em> on the ants' forelegs. These structures, combined with grooves on the legs themselves form the tibio-tarsal antenna cleaners, through which the antennae are drawn. <span class ="footnoteTag">[scroll down for additional notes/references]</span>
</div>
<div class="captionRefFootnote">ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:
<em>These grooming actions not only remove fungus and other debris, but may also serve to spread antibiotic secretions over the ant's body. In many ant lineages, much of this bacteria-fighting substance is secreted from the metapleural gland, located on the ant's mesosoma, the 'middle' body part (also called the alitrunk). There is also evidence that some ants posses a gland that is incorporated in the 'antenna cleaner' (strigilis) itself. It is unclear if the secretions from this gland aid solely in the cleaning of the antenna, or serve as a means of chemical communication - perhaps they fulfill both of these roles. As mentioned elsewhere on this site, grooming (and self-grooming) behaviors also distribute the chemical compounds ('cuticular hydrocarbons') that allow ants to discriminate between nestmates and intruders, regulate worker tasks, and also permit identification of reproductive status between colony members.
·Fernández-Marín, H., J.K. Zimmerman, S.A. Rehner & W.T. Wcislo. 2006. Active Use of the Metapleural Gland by Ants in Controlling Fungal Infection. Proc. R. Soc. B (2006) 273, 1689–1695 doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3492 Published online 15 March 2006
·Greene, M.J. & D.M. Gordon. 2007. How Patrollers Set Foraging Direction in Harvester Ants. The American Naturalist, Vol. 170, No. 6, December 2007
·Hölldobler, B. & E.O. Wilson. 1990. The Ants. Cambridge, MA, Belknap/Harvard Press
·Schönitzer, K., H. Dott, R.R. Melzer. 1996. The Antenna Cleaner Gland in Messor rufitarsis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Tissue and Cell, 1996 28(1) 107-113, Pearson Professional Ltd.
·Wagner, D.,M. Tissot, W. Cuevas, and D.M. Gordon. 2000. Harvester Ants Utilize Cuticular Hydrocarbons in Nestmate Recognition. Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol. 26, No. 10, 2000</em></div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-9xctRSJ/2/3b95cf04/Ti/7545_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 12:41PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 2 of 2] As mentioned earlier, these ants <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> did not stand still, or congregate around the nest entrance - making them very difficult 'moving targets' for imaging. Thankfully, a couple of workers paused for a few moments to engage in some self-grooming behavior. The forelegs were drawn along the length of the antennae, and also inserted between the ants' mandibles. Not visible in these images are the tiny pectinate (comb-like) <em>tibial spurs</em> on the ants' forelegs. These structures, combined with grooves on the legs themselves form the tibio-tarsal antenna cleaners, through which the antennae are drawn. <span class ="footnoteTag">[scroll down for additional notes/references]</span>
</div>
<div class="captionRefFootnote">ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES:
<em>These grooming actions not only remove fungus and other debris, but may also serve to spread antibiotic secretions over the ant's body. In many ant lineages, much of this bacteria-fighting substance is secreted from the metapleural gland, located on the ant's mesosoma, the 'middle' body part (also called the alitrunk). There is also evidence that some ants posses a gland that is incorporated in the 'antenna cleaner' (strigilis) itself. It is unclear if the secretions from this gland aid solely in the cleaning of the antenna, or serve as a means of chemical communication - perhaps they fulfill both of these roles. As mentioned elsewhere on this site, grooming (and self-grooming) behaviors also distribute the chemical compounds ('cuticular hydrocarbons') that allow ants to discriminate between nestmates and intruders, regulate worker tasks, and also permit identification of reproductive status between colony members.
·Fernández-Marín, H., J.K. Zimmerman, S.A. Rehner & W.T. Wcislo. 2006. Active Use of the Metapleural Gland by Ants in Controlling Fungal Infection. Proc. R. Soc. B (2006) 273, 1689–1695 doi:10.1098/rspb.2006.3492 Published online 15 March 2006
·Greene, M.J. & D.M. Gordon. 2007. How Patrollers Set Foraging Direction in Harvester Ants. The American Naturalist, Vol. 170, No. 6, December 2007
·Hölldobler, B. & E.O. Wilson. 1990. The Ants. Cambridge, MA, Belknap/Harvard Press
·Schönitzer, K., H. Dott, R.R. Melzer. 1996. The Antenna Cleaner Gland in Messor rufitarsis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Tissue and Cell, 1996 28(1) 107-113, Pearson Professional Ltd.
·Wagner, D.,M. Tissot, W. Cuevas, and D.M. Gordon. 2000. Harvester Ants Utilize Cuticular Hydrocarbons in Nestmate Recognition. Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol. 26, No. 10, 2000</em></div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-3j9rbd5/3/5b993863/Ti/7571_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:45PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 1 of 3] While observing <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> workers forging, a flash of motion was seen in the tiny crevice under a rock overhang (only about 10 inches from the <em>P. anzensis</em> nest). A life-and-death struggle was taking place between a <em>P. anzensis</em> worker and an unidentified spider. The spider was circling the ant at a startlingly rapid pace; attempting to immobilize its struggling prey with silk. In this image, the spider can be glimpsed (though very blurred) in the right foreground. The ant flipped over several times at she attempted to break free. Note the <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_stingInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm">everted (extended) sting</span></a>, normally not visible. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-mqxv7S5/1/234bbf16/Ti/7873_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:47PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">IMAGE 2 of 3 - see previous image] The spider (just visible in background) continues its efforts to immobilize the <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> worker.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-DJDcjmT/1/d0c20856/Ti/7889_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:47PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 3 of 3 - see previous two images] The spider alights on the ant's head, and can be clearly seen here [for a closer look, hover your mouse cursor over image and choose 'x2 large' from the view Size menu]. Just seconds after this image was captured, the ant broke free and started running around frantically - with the spider still attached. After several seconds, the spider dropped off and instantly disappeared among the large rocks. The stricken ant entered the nest entrance briefly and alerted her nestmates to danger. Several workers emerged and ran around the immediate area surrounding the nest for about 10 minutes, then things went back to normal. Note: the spider appears to be a male, judging by what appear to be enlarged pediplaps.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-nPwh6N9/1/14201955/Ti/7897_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:58PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 1 of 4] These four images show <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> workers at their nest entrance. Workers would peer out timidly before exiting. We found three <em>P. anzensis</em> nests, and this was the only one not obscured by large rocks. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-xrpVbNW/2/fd863885/Ti/7937_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:57PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 2 of 4] These four images show <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> workers at their nest entrance. Workers would peer out timidly before exiting. We found three <em>P. anzensis</em> nests, and this was the only one not obscured by large rocks. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-ZbBTGT3/2/48f99137/Ti/7936_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 4:00PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 3 of 4] These four images show <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> workers at their nest entrance. Workers would peer out timidly before exiting. We found three <em>P. anzensis</em> nests, and this was the only one not obscured by large rocks. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-GTfsLqQ/1/443a8006/Ti/7945_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 4:03PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[IMAGE 4 of 4] These four images show <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> workers at their nest entrance. Workers would peer out timidly before exiting. We found three <em>P. anzensis</em> nests, and this was the only one not obscured by large rocks. </div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-Qtxq6k7/1/dc5f5d1e/Ti/7957_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 3:57PM clear, breezy, air temp: 22°C / 71°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">We saw spider predation, and evidence of past spider predation at both of the locations where we found <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a>. Here, a <em>P. anzensis</em> worker hangs lifeless in the web of an unknown spider.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-c8DZMP5/1/bf63a478/Ti/7934_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 1:10PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 1 of 2] <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> habitat at the Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Recreation Area. Slope is covered with very large rocks, and is dotted with creosote bush (<em>Larrea tridentada</em>), and brittlebush (<em>Encelia farinosa</em>). Arrow indicates position of the only nest we found at this locality - adjacent to a large brittlebush plant.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-T4kvBQB/1/1c4e341f/Ti/0625_11_60D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., Ocotillo Wells Vehicular Rec. Area, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 121 m / 398 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/06/11 1:20PM overcast, breezy, air temp: 30°C / 86°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 2 of 2] Close-up view of the <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> nest area indicated in the previous image. The entrance itself was a cave-like vertical opening, located just under the tip of the white rock at the arrow's point. Ruler is 15 cm / 6 inches.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-NHVjzhd/1/6da47690/Ti/0638_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 4:33PM clear, breezy, air temp: 23°C / 74°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 1 of 2] Steep, rocky <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>Pogonomyrmex anzensis</em></span></a> habitat near the Pegleg Smith mounument, on the border of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Borrego Springs, California. Creosote bush (<em>Larrea tridentada</em>), and brittlebush (<em>Encelai farinosa</em>) were abundant here. <em>P. anzensis</em> workers were seen retrieving fallen brittlebush seeds from the ground, and transporting them back to the nest. Arrow indicates the location of one of the two nests we found at this locality.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-73t62QL/1/ed00a2e6/Ti/0779_11_60D-Ti.jpg)
![<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● Anza-Borrego Desert S.P., near Pegleg Smith monument, [San Diego Co], CA USA [el. 209 m / 687 ft]<span class="mapLink"> map location not yet available »</span></a>
<span class="captionImageInfo"> ● 4/09/11 4:22PM clear, breezy, air temp: 23°C / 74°F</span>
<div class="captionImageMain">[Image 2 of 2] Close-up view of the entrance to the <a href="http://www.davidlouisquinn.com/pogolumina_PanzensisInfo.htm"><span class="glossLinkSm"><em>P. anzensis</em></span></a> nest indicated in the previous image. Unlike the other two nests we saw, this one was not hidden by large rocks. A worker can be seen peering from the nest entrance in this natural-light image.</div>](https://photos.smugmug.com/NorthAmericanPogosbySpecies/Pogonomyrmex-anzensis/i-Qd2SPxm/2/d8e50216/Ti/0767_11_7D-Ti.jpg)
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