3 replies to this topic

[AntsTx]

1. Whitney, TX

2. 6/30/24

3. Arid grasslands

4. Worker 5-8mm Queen 9-11mm

5. Full dark red body

6. Long mandibles

7. Very crazy when disturbed

8. Ant mound

9. Sometime in June

 

 

[ReignofRage]

Pogonomyrmex comanche.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I'd bet comanche or occidentalis.
A better look at the beard would help, comanche will be distinctly more beard than occidentalis.

Also collection location and nest helps. 

 

Comanche are associated with sandy soil and near post-oak trees/grove is where to find comanche. While occidentalis is kind of anywhere, but will choose denser pack soil while comanche would be nearly exclusive to looser sandy soil.

And the nest of comanche will spceifficly be a mound with a circular central crater at the top. Where a single enrtance is found with no loose pebbels around it, as occidentalis keeps aorund to cover their nest entrace at night.

So if you saw the nest site and build, that would help on the disticntion between the two.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, May 13 2025 - 7:24 AM.

[AntsTx]

I'd bet comanche or occidentalis.
A better look at the beard would help, comanche will be distinctly more beard than occidentalis.

Also collection location and nest helps. 

 

Comanche are associated with sandy soil and near post-oak trees/grove is where to find comanche. While occidentalis is kind of anywhere, but will choose denser pack soil while comanche would be nearly exclusive to looser sandy soil.

And the nest of comanche will spceifficly be a mound with a circular central crater at the top. Where a single enrtance is found with no loose pebbels around it, as occidentalis keeps aorund to cover their nest entrace at night.

So if you saw the nest site and build, that would help on the disticntion between the two.

I can get pictures of the beard later today. Would it be the queen or the workers that have the beard?

 

They are in the environment that you described and they have the central crater at the top. I've noticed they close up their nests at night but some colonies have them wide open. It was around 70f at 1:00 am when I observed that.