Wizzie Brown. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Leaf Cutting Ants ... Simplified cross section diagram of a red imported fire ant mound ...
There are 12 species of harvester ants found in Texas. Since. Pogonomyrmex barbatus (the Red. Harvester Ant) is the most widespread in our state it will be the
identification key to the common ant genera of. Texas). Most ant species are not considered to be pests. They are in fact
noticeable and larger ants in open areas in. Texas. Eleven species in this group of ants. (genus Pogonomyrmex) are known from the state. However harvester ants
the prevalence of invasive and native ant species in College Station Texas. Different types of bait were placed in various urban landscapes at regular time
occur in Texas. Figure 1 shows county records for each species of fire ants in Texas. The first appearance of the imported fire ant in Texas may be dated.
Texas A&M University Department of Entomology ant species collected
In Texas S. invicta is the only imported fire ant
More than half the coun- ties in Texas are now infested with the red imported fire ant (see map page 2. Fire Ant Identification. Four fire ant species are found.
Texas A&M University. The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Buren)
What are harvester ants? Harvester ants belong to the genera Pogonomyrmex or Ephebomyrmex There are 12 species of harvester ants found in Texas Since Pogonomyrmex barbatus (the Red Harvester Ant) is the most widespread in our state it will be the one focused on in this paper If you have access to the internet you can learn which species
Red harvester ant workers are 1/4 to 1/2-inch long and red to dark brown. They have large, square heads, elbowed antennae, large mandibles and no spines on the body. Their mounds or nests are distinctive. Usually there is no vegetation within a 3 to 6 feet circular around the central opening of their colony and along foraging trails radiating from ...
Although some species of harvester ant prefer wooded environments, the red harvester ant prefers open grasslands, especially areas with clay loam soils. They are common along the edges of dirt roads. Red harvester ants are most active during hot, dry conditions. Red harvester ant foragers collect grass seeds and store them in their nests. Their for...
A colony of harvester ants live for 15-20 years and reach reproductive and stable colony size of about 12,000 workers at approximately 5 years (Gordon 1995). Mating occurs from spring to fall each year, but generally follows summer rains (Davis 2016). Winged males and females swarm, pair and mate. Males soon die and females seek a suitable nesting ...
Red harvester ants are not considered serious agricultural pests and they do not invade homes or structures. Most people encourage establishment of red harvester ant colonies but because of their painful sting and habit of clearing vegetation around their nests, some nests may require removal. Over-the-counter ant baits are general effective in eli...
Species exist throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Red harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, are common in Texas, but have suffered decline in much of the state due to red imported fire ant. Red imported fire ant generally do not prey upon harvester ants, but out compete them for resources.
One of the easiest methods to distinguish the various ants in Texas is to look at the color, shape, or size of the head, thorax, pedicel (1 or 2 segments connecting the thorax to the abdomen), and abdomen. Here are the most common species of ants in Texas and their unique characteristics. 1. Red Imported Fire Ant
Chestnut Carpenter Ants (Camponotus castaneus) are some of the most common red ants in the Northern parts of the US and Canada. This is a species that has a dark red color, as opposed to the brighter red coloring of Southern ants. It’s believed red ants in the North have darker nuances as they need to absorb extra heat from the sun.
Red Imported Fire Ants can be recognized by brown-red coloring. Male Red Imported Fire Ants are black. These ants are found in various sizes from 2.4 to 6mm. The reason for high differences in body size is given by the polymorphic nature of Red Imported Fire Ants. This means 2 or more variations exist in the same species.