California Harvester Ant vs American Slave-Maker Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute California Harvester Ant American Slave-Maker Ant
Scientific Name Pogonomyrmex californicus Polyergus lucidus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 5-7 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Seed Feeders Omnivores
Regions North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

California Harvester Ant

A small harvester ant found in hot deserts of the American Southwest. Colonies are often founded by groups of cooperating queens.

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Did You Know?

Multiple unrelated queens can found a single colony together, then fight to the death until only one remains.

American Slave-Maker Ant

A North American slave-making ant that conducts well-organized raids on Formica colonies. New queens infiltrate host colonies by killing the resident queen.

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Did You Know?

During raids, they release propaganda pheromones that cause defending ants to flee or fight each other instead of the raiders.