Tiny Collectors: Harvester Ants

Harvester Ant Ecology

While assembling this exhibit, students used specimen sheets from the University of Colorado Herbarium to identify plants growing near harvester ant nests in Colorado. Some of the seeds in the exhibit were even collected from harvester ant nests.

Seeds form most of the harvester ant's diet, which is why they are called harvester ants, although they occasionally eat other insects as well. The ants generally harvest all the seeds from one species in an area and then move on to the next.

Two of the most common plants in the harvester ant's habitat are yucca (Yucca glauca) and sagebrush (Artemesia species).

Soapweed yucca Yucca glauca	Soapweed yucca Yucca glauca	Fringed sagebrush Artemesia frigida

Harvester ants eat seeds from many species of plants, including corncockle (Agrostemma), knapweed (Centauria), yellow bee plant(Cleome lutia), baby's breath (Gypsophilia), and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia).

Corncockle Agrostemma	Knapweed Centauria	Knapweed Centauria
Yellow bee plant Cleome lutia	Baby's breath Gypsophilia	Baby's breath Gypsophilia
Prickly pear cactus Opuntia	Prickly pear cactus Opuntia	Tree cholla Opuntia imbricata

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