Chiricahua Mtns 2014

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Chiricahua Mtns Road Trip Spring 2014: Ant Species (3)

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Lordsburg, New Mexico

A very large nest of docile, long-legged ants (Aphaenogaster cockerelli).

These ants appear to be long-legged ants (Aphaenogaster cockerelli). They are very docile and show no tendency to bite when I place my hand in their nest, unlike A. albisetosa. They readily take Nature Valley Granola from my fingers. My criteria for separating these two species may be bogus (unscientific).

Distinguishing Between Aphaenogaster cockerelli & A. albisetosa

According to antweb.org, "Aphaenogaster albisetosa can be distinguished from all other Aphaenogaster in New Mexico, except A. cockerelli, by the elongate body, long legs and well-developed spines on the propodeum. Most workers can be distinguished from the closely related A. cockerelli as it has a less elongate head. Specimens of these two species are often difficult to separate." I am not sure from the previous statement which species has the less elongate head. In my limited experience with these species, A. cockerelli has a slightly more elongate head. According to Creighton's key (1950), the head (excluding mandibles) of A. cockerelli is 1 1/3 as long as broad, compared with the head (excluding mandibles) of A. albisetosa which is slightly longer than broad. If I read this correctly, the head of A. cockerelli is slightly more elongate. The ant on my finger in the following Image #1 from the Superstition Mtns appears to be Aphaenogaster cockerelli. The ants from this nest were very docile and showed no tendency to bite. Ants from the Little Dragoon Mtns & Chiricahua National Monument (Image #2) were very aggressive and attacked my hand, especially biting in between my fingers. Their heads appear slightly less elongate than the ant on my finger and I think they are A. albisetosa. The ant on my finger also compares rather well with the colony of A. cockerelli at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, California verified by Dr. Nico Franz, Curator of Entomology, Arizona State University. My behavioral criteria for separating these two species may be completely bogus (unscientific).

Image 1 (Aphaeogaster cockerelli)

Image 2 (Aphaeogaster albisetosa)

Aphaenogaster albisetosa: These ants are very similar in general appearance to long-legged ants (A. cockerelli) in the Superstitions and Sedona. They appear to be more aggressive than A. cockerelli and bite without hesitation. This is especially true when I place my hand near their nest! Although their heads are elongate, they appear slightly less elongate than the ant on my finger in Image #1.

Captive colony of long-legged ants (Aphaenogaster cockerelli) at The Living Desert exhibit in Palm Desert, California. Note the slightly more elongate head characteristic of this species. This colony came from Dr. Nico Franz, Curator of Entomology, Arizona State University.

There appears to be a difference in head shape (excluding mandibles) that is consistant with Creighton's key to Aphaenogaster (1950). I have not seen any reference describing a difference in their aggressiveness behavior.

Cave Creek Canyon, Chiricahua Mtns

I placed 11 pitfall traps like this one in Cave Creek Canyon, from the mouth of canyon near Portal to above the Southwest Research Station. I caught about 12 different species of ants, but no trapjaw ants (Odontomachus clarus), one of my goals for this trip.

Mandibles Locked In Opened Position
Photo by Zach Lieberman. From www.Antweb.org

Mandibles Released In Closed Position
Photo by April Nobile. From www.Antweb.org

I have yet to encounter Odontomachus clarus on my Arizona photographic road trips. Stay tuned.

Some Ants Caught In My Pitfall Traps

The above two images show honeypot ants (Myrmecocystus) that have killed a large solpugid (sun spider). Several species of honeypot ants are known from this area, including M. mendax, M. depilis, and M. mimicus. Other spp. of Myrmecocystus in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): M. mexicanus, M. melliger, M. placodops, and M. testaceus.

The above image shows honeypot ants (Myrmecocystus) that have killed and dismembered a wolf spider. Several species of honeypot ants are known from this area, including M. mendax, M. depilis, and M. mimicus. Other spp. of Myrmecocystus in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): M. mexicanus, M. melliger, M. placodops, and M. testaceus.

Honeypot ants (Myrmecocystus) photographed on a light box. Several species of honeypot ants are known from this area, including Myrmecocystus mendax (right?), M. depilis, and M. mimicus. Other spp. of Myrmecocystus in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): M. mexicanus, M. melliger, M. placodops, and M. testaceus. See following video about M. mimicus:

See Amazing BBC Video About Honeypot Ants (Myrmecocystus mimicus) In Horseshoe Canyon, Arizona

A large carpenter ant (Camponotus). C. ocreatus is reported from this area. Other spp. of Camponotus in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): C. festinatus, C. fumidus, C. fragilis, C. hyatti, C. microps, C. modoc, C. pudorosus, C. sansabeanus, C. sayi, C. schaefferi, C. semitestaceus, C. ulcerosus, C. vafer, and C. vicinus.

Close-up view of the head of above carpenter ant (Camponotus ocreatus).

More Images Of Ants Caught In Pitfall Traps

These ants were collected in 11 pitfall traps placed in the Portal-Cave Creek Canyon area in May 2014. Some of these identifications have been verified by James Trager.

Collage image: A Camponotus ocreatus, B Aphaenogaster albisetosa, C Formica gnava (left) & Myrmecocystus mendax? (right), D Solenopsis xyloni minor worker (left) & Forelius (right), E Trachymyrmex arizonensis, F Liometopum luctuosum, G Pheidole, H Pheidole, I Pheidole (like G), J Dorymyrmex, K Myrmecocystus minor worker, L Crematogaster. Species of Forelius in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): F. mccooki and F. pruinosus.

Portal "G" in above collage image. It appears to be a minor worker of big-headed ant (Pheidole). Several species of Pheidole are reported from this rich ant area, including P. desertorum, P. militicida, and P. rhea. Other spp. of Pheidole in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): P. bicarinata, P. ceres, P. clydei, P. cockerelli, P. crassicornis, P. diversipilosa, P. furtiva, P. hyatti, P. micula, P. obtusospinosa, P. perpilosa, P. pilfera, P. sciara, P. sciophila, P. tysoni, P. vallicola, and P. xerophila.

Portal "D" and Portal "H" in above collage image. Portal "D" appears to be a species of Solenopsis (S. xyloni). Other spp. of Solenopsis in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): S. amblychila, A. aurea, S. krockowi, and S. molesta. Portal "H" is apparently a 2nd species of Pheidole: A small, dark-colored minor worker (possibly P. rhea). Other spp. of Pheidole in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): P. bicarinata, P. ceres, P. clydei, P. cockerelli, P. crassicornis, P. desertorum, P. diversipilosa, P. furtiva, P. hyatti, P. micula, P. militicida, P. obtusospinosa, P. perpilosa, P. pilfera, P. sciara, P. sciophila, P. tysoni, P. vallicola, and P. xerophila.

Portal "J" in above collage image. It appears to be a species of Dorymyrmex. In fact, D. insanus is reported from this area. The specific epithet "insanus" apparently refers to the confusing taxonomy of this species where it has been shifted between different genera and species numerous times during the past century. Other spp. of Dorymyrmex in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): D. pilatus, D. bicolor, and D. pyramicus.

Portal "K" in above collage image. According to James Trager it is a minor worker of Myrmecocystus. The maxillary palps are broken, so their length cannot be used in the identification process. Several species of honeypot ants have been reported from this area. In fact, the gaster appears to be slightly distended like a small replete. Prenolepis imparis has repletes that become foragers, but they are smaller. Petiolar scale of P. imparis is also different: "Sharp & strongly inclined anteriad; posterior face <45 deg from horizontal."

Portal "C" in above collage image. According to James Trager, the left image is Formica gnava. I originally thought it was Myrmecocystus. The maxillary palp segments 4 & 5 are too short for Myrmecocystus. Other differences are illustrated in above image. Other spp. of Formica in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): F. argentea, F. browni, F. fusca, F. lasioides, F. occulta, F. perpilosa, F. rufibarbis, and F. wheeleri.

Portal "L" in above collage image. It appears to be a species of Crematogaster. It is called "acrobat ant" because of the way the gaster is held high over the body. C. emeryana and C. coarctata are reported from this area. Other spp. of Crematogaster in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): C. colei, C. dentinodis, C. depilis, C. isolata, C. larreae, C. lineolata, C. minutissima smithi, C. navajoa, C. opuntiae, C. torosa, and C. vermiculata.

Portal "E" in above collage image. It appears to be a leaf-cutter ant of the genus Trachymyrmex. Probably T. arizonensis according to James Trager. This specimen is smaller than Acromyrmex versicolor I have seen at Boyce-Thompson Arboretum (near Superior, Arizona) and Blythe, California. It also has more conspicuous tuberculate spines on gaster. Other spp. of Trachymyrmex in Portal & Cave Creek Canyon (according to Antweb.org): T. nogalensis and T. pomonae.