Jf. Mull et To. Crist, TIMING OF MATING FLIGHTS IN THE WESTERN HARVESTER ANT, POGONOMYRMEX OCCIDENTALIS CRESSON (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE), Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 66(3), 1993, pp. 372-375
Nuptial flights of the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentali
s Cresson, were observed over five consecutive years at a site in the
shrub-steppe of southwestern Wyoming and their seasonal timing related
to local precipitation patterns. Ah flights followed within 1-2 days
of a rain. Nest soil temperature following a rain may be the proximate
cue that determines daily flight timing. We relate the timing and fre
quency of mating activity observed in our study with those observed fo
r Pogonomyrmex species in other environments.