Common Name: Western Harvester Ants
Other Names: Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
How Big Are They?: Workers are about ¼ inch (6 mm) long. The queen is much bigger.
Good Things They Do: Ants help recycle plant material and aerate soil.
Not So Good Things They Do: Can bite and sting.
Where Do You Find Them? In the high plains and deserts of the US. Make mounds in the dirt, with few if any plants around it. The workers are active during the day.
Interesting Things About Them: Ants, like the Western harvester ant, live in colonies with many others. They work together to tunnel, gather food, defend the nest, and to care for the queen’s larvae (babies).
