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Western Harvester Ant

Within the United States, the western harvester ant, or Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, is primarily seen in the mountain ranges of most of the western states. Unlike other ant species, the western harvester ant prefers to dwell in areas where the soil has already been disturbed. 

Western harvester ants measure about 3/8-inch in length and are orange, red, dark brown or brown-black in color. Some may display multiple colors.

The nests of the western harvester ant measure one to four feet wide and two to 10 inches high. While they appear to be merely piles of dirt, the nests contain several interior chambers. Western harvester ants often remove all surrounding plants in order to prevent shade. These ants cover their mounds with charcoal, dead leaves, small rocks and other debris to keep them warm and they remain inside the nests during the hottest parts of the day. There have been reports of damage to pavement because of the mounds of Western harvester ants. The mounds were built at the edge of the pavement and caused erosion when it rained.

Western harvester ants feed on seeds and insects, but typically eat only one species at a time. Western harvester ants can travel long distances in search of food, and different species of western harvester ants exhibit different foraging behaviors. Red harvester ants leave scent trails of their routes, while California harvester ants leave their nests one at a time and go in all directions without leaving trails. 

Some western harvester ant species are aggressive, fighting with members of their own as well as other ant colonies, while other western harvester ant species do not fight at all. Western harvester ants can be defensive of their nests when a threat is perceived. 

This species swarms primarily during summer. Western harvester ants mate in flight and newly fertilized queens then begin their own colonies.

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