Explanation of Names
Pogonomyrmex means "bearded ant", for the basket-like hair structure or psammophore underneath their heads for holding sandy soil.
The presence of the psammophore by itself is not a diagnostic trait for the genus. Many genera, including Veromessor, Myrmecocystus, and Pheidole, all have species that have psammophores in our area.
Range
In our area, a mostly western US distribution, with one species east of the Mississippi River. Two species range into Canada from SK to BC, P. occidentalis and salinus.
Remarks
US species in this genus can generally be grouped into 4 main groups: the
barbatus,
occidentalis, and
californicus complexes, and three small species in the
Ephebomyrmex subgenus.
(1)
barbatus complex (10 species in our area, 6 represented)
Excised clypeus:
californicus complex (8 species in our area, 6 represented)
Our only polymorphic species:
black gaster morph:
pure red morph:
occidentalis complex (6 species in our area, 4 represented)
offset basal mandibular tooth:
straight basal mandibular tooth:
subgenus Ephebomyrmex (3 species in our area, 3 represented)
