Veromessor

Images of Veromessor harvester ants in Arizona, USA. More coming soon!
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Veromessor lariversi

● Fernley [Lyon Co], NV USA [el. 1271 m / 4171 ft] view location in Google Maps » ● 6/23/10 6:34AM partly cloudy, air temp: 17°C / 62°F

[IMAGE 3 of 4] V. lariversi workers appear to be very timid. They were often unwilling to exit the nest if I was near. Here, a worker peers from the nest entrance, with antennae waving - trying to decide whether it's safe to come out, or not. I remained very still, and she eventually (and very cautiously) emerged. [scroll down for additional notes/references]

ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: This unusual member of the genus Veromessor is a nocturnal/twilight forager. These ants subsist mostly on harvested seeds, though they will scavenge dead insects (and other arthropods) as well. Veromessor lariversi workers are honey-colored, and have very large eyes well suited to their nocturnal habits. Their small (7.6 cm / 3 inch diameter) nests are found in sandy areas of Nevada, and California, USA. Colonies are small, containing several hundred members, and the workers are gentle and inoffensive - showing no signs of aggressive/defensive behavior when being imaged. These ants are quite rare, and are not often encountered.

·Cole, A.C. 1966. Ants of the Nevada Test Site. Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series - Vol. VII, Number 3, June 1966
·Fisher, B.L. & S.P. Cover. 2007. Ants of North America: A Guide to the Genera. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA, University of California Press
·Johnson, R.A. 2000. Seed Harvesting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of North America: An Overview of Ecology and Biogeography. Sociobiology Vol.36, No. 1, 2000