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Pogolumina is active and being updated again, as of March 2019! MANY new Pogos, and non-Pogo species coming soon. Here are the most recent additions. SCROLL DOWN BELOW BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR FULL IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS.
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Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus
● Judith Tunnell Trail, South Mountain Park/Preserve [Maricopa Co], AZ USA [el. 421 m / 1383 ft] (LOC: A1806) view location in Google Maps » ● 11/21/2018 1:06PM mostly sunny, air temp: 24°C / 75°F
[IMAGE 1 of 2] When this ant was imaged in November 2018, I assumed it was Pogonomyrmex pima, because current range maps do not show P. imberbiculus occurring in the Phoenix, AZ area. I only saw 2 workers that day. Nest was almost flat, approx. 2 inches in diameter, and made of very fine sand, with a single entrance. The nest is located about 6 inches from edge of paved trail/walkway. I have checked on this particular nest twice since then, but there was no activity.
ADDITIONAL NOTES/REFERENCES: Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus is a member of the Ephebomyrmex species group and is easily confused with the very similar Pogonomyrmex pima. P. imberbiculus is differentiated from P. pima by the presence (in P. imberbiculus) of a prominent, forwardly directed projection in front of each antennal fossa, and with the dorsum of the petiolar node (in P. imberbiculus) being coarsely rugo-reticulate.
P. imberbiculus workers are rather small – this individual was approx. 3 - 3.5mm in length. Like P. pima, they are docile, and forage singly at a moderately slow but steady pace, as they retrieve seeds and dead insects/insect parts.
