Pest Library

Characteristics

The Aphaenogaster cockerelli is a large, an elongated ant with elongated head and long legs. They have smoothly curved alitrunk and a pair of curved spines. They are mostly identified because of their long legs and are sometimes called “the long legged ant”.

Habitat

The Aphaenogaster cockerelli is common in New Mexico, California, Texas, and Nevada and mostly live in desert lands. They live in underground colonies where they can build different entrances. These entrances are conspicuous big holes that may be surrounded by tiny pebbles, gravel, and dead plants.

Behavior

While these ants are large, a most fascinating fact about them is that they can carry items that are far larger than they. They like to look for food alone, but they can ask help when they need it. Most of the time, though, they can be seen dragging caterpillars or beetles that are larger than them. As much as possible, this ant will try to do the carrying alone instead of getting aid. The only time that they will ask for help though, is when the load is too heavy for them. They usually search for food early in the morning and evening. Although they can eat seeds and plants, they mostly prefer dead insects.

Food

They feed on dead insects, seeds and plants. These ants can carry larger items than them. But, if they cannot carry a food that is too large and too heavy, they will recruit other ants for the job with the use of pheromones. Other ants that are within distance will come to the aid of the original ant and will help carry the large food together.

Life Cycle

Nuptial fights happen during July. Once they return to the ground the female reproductive will take off her wings and search for a good place to create her colony. The colony only has one queen, and if she produces reproductive females, other workers will attack the reproductive females, so that she can retain her place and status in the colony. For the queen and her brood to survive, her workers will lay trophic eggs for her to eat. But, because the queen has most of the control, some female workers will still lay eggs that are only males.

Other Information and Tips

The Aphaenogaster cockerelli may still attack and bite onlookers, especially if their nest is disturbed. However, they are not considered pests and they are not dangerous. They can even allow observers to come close to their nest. They do not go indoors and will stay in the desert to search for dead insects to eat.

Photo by www.AntWeb.org