Pogonomyrmex bicolor
Images of the not-frequently-seen Pogonomyrmex bicolor in Arizona, USA.
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Pogonomyrmex bicolor
● Duval Mine Rd, Sahuarita [Pima Co], AZ USA [el. 882 m / 2893 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 11/06/10 9:39AM sunny, air temp: 23°C / 73°F
{IMAGE 2 of 3] Activity around the nest entrance of Pogonomyrmex bicolor. Though not much is known about the biology of these ants, they apparently harvest grass seeds in significant quantities. Both nests at this location were surrounded by huge amounts of discarded grass parts (chaff). In these images, workers are mostly removing grass awns, and other debris from the nest - presumably after having secured the nutritious seeds. Foragers from one nest were traveling up to 9 m / 30 ft to an area with cut-down grass stems, and some were observed returning to the nest with plant matter.