Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Cresson, 1865)
NAVAJO ANT PROJECT
This species can be identified by the upturned mandibular apical tooth. This tooth is slightly facing away from the second tooth. This ant typicaly builds large pebble mounds and is widespread throughout the Southwest. Uniformly red in color with two sharp propodeal spines. Occassionally mounds are inconspicuous or absent when the colony is very small. A seed harvester that is active during the warmer parts of the day. Common around Shiprock, NM and at higher elevations at Mexican Cry Mesa, AZ.

DISTRIBUTION

Nearctic: United States (Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California)
Mound and immediate perimeter is cleared of vegetation.
LITERATURE

Cresson, E. T. 1865b. Catalogue of Hymenoptera in the collection of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, from Colorado Territory. [concl.]. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Phila. 4: 426-488 [worker, queen described]

Mayr, G. 1886d. Die Formiciden der Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 36: 419-464 [Senior synonym of opaciceps and seminigra]

Cresson, E. T. 1887. Synopsis of the families and genera of the Hymenoptera of America, north of Mexico, together with a catalogue of the described species, and bibliography. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc., Suppl. Vol. 1887: 1-351 [combination in Pogonomyrmex]

Olsen, O. W. 1934. Notes on the North American harvesting ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex Mayr. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 77: 493-514 [senior synonym of ruthveni]

Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1953a [1952]. The ant larvae of the myrmicine tribe Myrmicini. Psyche (Camb.) 59: 105-125 [larva described]

Cole, A. C., Jr. 1968. Pogonomyrmex harvester ants. A study of the genus in North America. Knoxville, Tenn.: University of Tennessee Press, x + 222 pp. [male described, senior synonym of utahensis]

Taber, S. W.; Francke, O. F. 1986. A bilateral gynandromorph of the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Southwest. Nat. 31: 274-276 [gynandromorph described]

Taber, S. W.; Cokendolpher, J. C.; Francke, O. F. 1988. Karyological study of North American Pogonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insectes Soc. 35: 47-60 [karyotype described]