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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Myrmicinae » Pogonomyrmecini » Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex) » occidentalis complex (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis complex) » Pogonomyrmex subnitidus
Photo#279869
Harvester Ant carrying Earwig - Pogonomyrmex subnitidus
Copyright © 2009 Elliotte Rusty Harold

Harvester Ant carrying Earwig - Pogonomyrmex subnitidus
Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, Orange County, California, USA
May 24, 2009
Size: 4mm ant, earwig 2x
I think it's carrying an earwig. In any case, it was something much bigger than the ant.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Elliotte Rusty Harold on 25 May, 2009 - 7:51pm
Last updated 10 December, 2019 - 2:38am

Moved
Moved from California Harvester Ant.
… Steven Wang, 10 December, 2019 - 2:38am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Harvester Ants.

Thanks for the ID and fascinating comments on termite/ant interaction, Dr. Trager!
… Harsi S. Parker, 12 January, 2010 - 4:18pm login or register to post comments

nice shot
That's a great picture. The headless nature of the earwig adds to the mood of the image, as well as the size of the prey. The ant colony should be happy with this worker. Give that ant a raise!
… Andrew Williams, 26 May, 2009 - 10:19am login or register to post comments

Proposed contest...
What's the longest thing you've seen a harvester carrying? Have a photo of it? Let's post and compare! Yes, size does matter.

Winner gets a free subscription to Bug Guide.

This is certainly a good start - and the present benchmark.
… Ron Hemberger, 25 May, 2009 - 8:55pm login or register to post comments

 
entering the contest
I'm entering the contest! :) It's not a harvester ant though. I'm calling this one, hungry ant
… Andrew Williams, 26 May, 2009 - 5:36pm login or register to post comments

 
The Panel of Judge is confused, Andy.
While some accommodation might be made for other ant species, there is a major difference between eating and toting. Quite an impressive feat for your ant, but I fear your entry must be disallowed.
… Ron Hemberger, 26 May, 2009 - 11:53pm login or register to post comments

Euro earwig
*
… v belov, 25 May, 2009 - 8:29pm login or register to post comments

 
The common earwig in southern California
is indeed, Forficula auricularia. Perhaps because of its claustral, egg-guarding reproductive strategy, this earwig somehow coexists with the highly invasive and predatory Argentine ants in that part of the world. The harvester ants don't do so well with Argentines, though, surviving only where soils are highly drained and not irrigated. Mostly seed eaters, this Pogonomyrmex californicus opportunistically scavenges a dead earwig.
… James C. Trager, 12 January, 2010 - 9:38am login or register to post comments

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