Species: Crematogaster pilosa

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

NEARCTIC: USA

Biology:

Habitat: There seems to be some confusion regarding the ecology, or perhaps the identification, of C. pilosa. According to Johnson (1988) -- the species is mainly arboreal preferring mesic forests, overgrown fields, orchards, landscaped areas, and will nest in trees, grasses, reeds, etc.-, and MacGown at http://www.msstate.edu/org/mississippientmuseum/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaepages/genericpages/Cremato.pilosa.htm states -- Crematogaster pilosa is a common species in this area that nests in logs, fallen branches, and in hollow stems of many species of plants (shrubs, grass, trees, forbes {sic}, etc.). Both of these accounts are at variance with other published reports and my own experience of this ant as a species that nests near the ground in wet-mesic and wet habitats. In an account from Ohio by Coovert (2005) more similar to my experience, it is reported from semi-open and areas as well as moist woods, and significantly, he also reports it feeding at flowers of Oxypolis rigidior, a wet-prairie and sedge meadow plant. In Missouri, I have collected C. pilosa nesting in sedge tussocks both in a wet prairie in Howell Co. and in a fen in Washington Co.

Natural History: Largely unknown, but C. pilosa no doubt preys, scavenges and gathers honeydew and nectar like its congeners. Alates are reared and disperse in high summer.

Notes:

IUCN Red List status: VU D2 Listed as: Crematogaster pilosa

Taxon Page Author History

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 2 times found in roadedge veg., 1 times found in Moist hardwood forest, 1 times found in pine/palmetto flatwoods, 1 times found in coastal marsh, 1 times found in cypress swamp, 1 times found in mesic hammock, 1 times found in hammock/wetland edge, 1 times found in in low flatwoods, 1 times found in oak-pine woodland, 1 times found in wetland

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 8 times search

Elevations: collected from 2 - 240 meters, 33 meters average

4 Specimens Imaged | View All 39 Specimens for this species

CASENT0103803

---

CASENT0103804

---

CASENT0103806

---

CASENT0193165

---