Florida Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex badius
This record describes Pogonomyrmex badius (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
nest considered by Louisiana to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) The only known host of the wasp Kapala floridana .
Identification notes
nest
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Pogonomyrmecini
- Genus
- Pogonomyrmex (Harvester Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
nests in sand or sandy soil chiefly of open woodlands and grassy fields abundant in the white sands of the Florida scrub habitat.
Geographic Range
se. US (LA-FL-NC) (the only eastern representative of the genus)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pogonomyrmex badius (Latreille, 1802)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Pogonomyrmex badius. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Florida Harvester Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Mike Quinn , v belov , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Harvester Ant
What is Florida Harvester Ant?
Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Florida Harvester Ant?
nest
Where is Florida Harvester Ant found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | nests in sand or sandy soil chiefly of open woodlands and grassy fields abundant in the white sands of the Florida scrub habitat. |
| Range | se. US (LA-FL-NC) (the only eastern representative of the genus) |