Topoff's Amazon ant
Polyergus topoffi
This record describes Polyergus topoffi (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Formicini
- Genus
- Polyergus (Amazon Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Riparian (mesquite-sycamore) woodlands, oak-juniper-pine woodlands
Geographic Range
Mostly Mexican, originally discovered in Hidalgo, MX. This ant is best known from the lower elevation Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona, from about 4500-6000ft elevation.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Howard Topoff and his students have contributed the great bulk of what we know about this ant species and indeed, a large portion of what we know about North American Polyergus , generally. Taxonomic history buffs may prefer the alternative common name. This ant had once been described by the unavailable varietal name Polyergus rufescens var. montezuma
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Polyergus topoffi. 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 Topoff's Amazon ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James C. Trager; Additional contributions by metrioptera