Species: Acromyrmex versicolor

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

This genus is primarily Neotropical; Nearctic range: CA, AZ and likely NM. Collected from the Chiricahua Mtns, Cochise Co., Arizona.

Biology:

Habitat in Southwest: creosote scrub. This species nests in the soil, and forages in columns, collecting leaves and pieces of leaves ranging from mesquite (Prosopsis spp.), Jatropha dioica, creosotebush (Larrea tridentata), buffalo gourd (Curcubita foetidissima) to composite seeds. Nests are large, with probably several thousand workers.

Wheeler, 1907, 1911, 1917; Weber, 1972; Rojas-Fernndez and Fragoso, 1994, 2000.

(From Mackay and Mackay, 2002)

Identification:

Identification in the Nearctic Southwest: the frontal carinae extend about  the length to the occiput, and the occipital lobes are covered with coarse rugae. The mesosoma has numerous spines and the gaster is covered with tubercles. Ants of this genus have 11 segmented antennae in which the insertion is hidden by the frontal lobes. Most tubercles and spines have a curved, coarse hair. In North America, it could only be confused with Trachymyrmex, from which it differs in being polymorphic. Atta also occurs in the United States (southern AZ, southern TX), and is similar to Acromyrmex, but differs in that the dorsum of the gaster is smooth (no tubercles).
(From Mackay and Mackay, 2002).

References:

Mackay, W.P. and Mackay, E.E. (2002). The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Edwin Mullen Press, Lewiston: 400 pp.

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 1 times found in Sonoran desert wash, 1 times found in Chihuahuah desert scrub, 1 times found in dry wash, 1 times found in Port of entry

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 1 times pitfall traps

Elevations: collected from 470 - 860 meters, 548 meters average

5 Specimens Imaged | View All 9 Specimens for this species

CASENT0005662

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CASENT0104036

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CASENT0106056

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CASENT0246631

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CASTYPE00618

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