![]() The first thing you notice about Dorymyrmex bicolor colonies is their neat circular mounds. In a previous post, I wrote about how to identify them.Ī few weeks ago I visited an agricultural research station and found almost a monoculture of Dorymyrmex. I’m looking forward to learning more about it’s life cycle and how ants interact with it.ĭorymyrmex bicolor ants are common in Arizona, especially in open areas. In any case, it seems like this plant would be a great one to add to an ant garden. (For more details about the flowering structures see Wayne’s Word (scroll to absolute bottom of post) or the flower structure of euphorbs.) The dark reddish areas near the center are the nectar glands within the cyathia. What look like anthers are actually male flowers and at the center is a female flower. Upon investigation, it turns out that what look like *flowers* are actually special flowering structures unique to euphorbs called cyathia (singular cyathium). Perhaps they were searching for seeds? I also wondered if there were extrafloral nectaries under the leaves or on the stems that were attracting the ants.įrankly, I wasn’t that familiar with these little plants, so I wasn’t sure where the nectaries were. The Pogonomyrmex workers were searching under the plants. They weren’t visiting the “flowers,” though. I also saw Pogonomyrmex californicus workers in the sandmat. The Dorymyrmex workers were definitely visiting the flowers* (see below). Two more workers, with equally yellow mandibles. I could see the front of the ant’s head was covered with pollen. On the day I visited, Dorymyrmrex bicolor workers were everywhere. It is spring and the flowers are blooming in Arizona.ĭo you recognize the plants? I believe they are smallseed sandmat, Chamaesyce polycarpa. Have you ever seen Neivamyrmex army ants? So, I didn’t bring home lettuce, but maybe something even better from the u-pick farm. Armstrong reports Neivamyrmex workers raid Pheidole nests, as well. Seems like in this case a Dorymyrmex bicolor colony was a target of their raid. They don’t make permanent or long term nests like the Dorymyrmex, but instead raid nests of other ants stealing the brood for food. In any case, Neivamyrmex army ants resemble their larger namesakes because they are always on the move. leonardi or one of several similar species. Gordon Snelling identified Armstrong’s ants as Neivamyrmex leonardi. Armstrong found some similar Neivamyrmex near the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, which are close to the farm where I found these ants. The exact species is much more difficult to figure out. ![]() Having no noticeable eyes is a characteristic of Neivamyrmex army ants (Note: They do have a single eye facet, but it isn’t obvious.) The Dorymyrmex worker ants from the same perspective have large eyes. The workers exiting from this nest are uniform in color. Same rough shape, but notice anything different?įrom another view, the entrance hole is actually blocked with dirt.įinally, I can see some ants, but those aren’t Dorymyrmex bicolor workers. Can you see the single petiole that is characteristic of the species?Īfter seeing about three dozen or so circular nests like those above, I found this one. The workers here were pulling out clumps of what looked like dirt. Here’s another nest, again with an entrance hole in the center, and covered with active ants. bicolor seems to prefer to nest along dirt paths or roads. The nests are made by a common ant in the low desert, Dorymyrmex bicolor. It wasn’t surprising to see numerous circular mounds with a single entrance hole in the center. When I went to a u-pick vegetable farm near Phoenix, Arizona, I came home with photographs of ants, instead. People who go to u-pick vegetable farms usually come home with lettuce or corn or tomatoes. ![]()
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