Pogonomyrmex
spp.
Characteristics –
Size: Harvester ants range from 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch in
length.
Color: The color varies from red to reddish brown to
black, depending on the species.
Behavior – Harvester ants are farmers in the
sense that they gather seeds as their primary food source. They
generally clear large circular areas completely free of any
vegetation around the nest entrance hole. A few species are known to
clear an area up to 30 feet or more in diameter. Other species may
only clear a few feet. Some species construct mounds, while others
carry the excavated soil away from the nest and discard it. These
ants become pests only when they invade a lawn from a neighboring
field.
These ants aggressively defend their nests and will bite vigorously;
some species will sting.
Habitat – Several dozen species of harvester
ants occur in the United States, but most are desert dwellers and do
not come into contact with humans very often. Only one species is
found east of the Mississippi River in Florida; the remaining
species are found in the Southwest. Nests occur in the soil with a
single entrance hole.
Tips for Control – Harvester ants are controlled
through the use of ant baits. In some cases, however, getting the
ants in a particular colony to take the bait may require persistence
and possibly the use of different baits.
