Neivamyrmex californicus (Mayr)

Snelling, G. C. & Snelling, R. R., 2007, New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 459-550 : 467-468

Neivamyrmex californicus (Mayr)

Figures 2, 18, 32, 62, 75, 88

Eciton californicum Mayr , 1870: 969 (w). USA, California, San Francisco (NHMV). Lectotype

designated by Ward, 1999: 76 Eciton (Labidus) californicum : Mayr, 1886 b: 121 (w). Eciton (Acamatus) californicum : Emery, 1894: 184 (w). Emery, 1900: 523 (w). Eciton (Acamatus) californicum var. obscura Forel , 1914 a: 265 (w). USA, California, Vista ( MHNG) .

Lectotype designated by Ward, 1999: 76 Eciton (Neivamyrmex) californicum : M. R. Smith 1942: 560 (w). Creighton, 1950: 70 (w). Neivamyrmex californicus : Borgmeier 1953: 11 (w). Borgmeier, 1955: 517 - 519 (w). Watkins, 1976: 15

(w). Ward, 1999 (w).

DISTRIBUTION (Map 1)

UNITED STATES, California. MEXICO, Baja California.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

UNITED STATES, CALIFORNIA, Contra Costa Co.: 9 km ENE Danville , 490 m (37 ° 51 ' N 121 ° 54 ' W) ( UCDC) ; El Dorado Co.: 14 km NW Shingle Springs , 340 m (38 º 45 ' N 121 º 02 ' W) ( UCDC, GCSC, LACM) . Los Angeles Co.: Arcadia ( USNM) ; La Verne ( USNM, MCZC) ; Los Angeles ( USNM) . Orange Co.: Laguna Hills ( LACM) ; Tonner Canyon ( WPMC) . Riverside Co.: Riverside , “ in house ” ( GCSC, KWCC, LACM); Lake Skinner ( UCRC 0. Santa Barbara Co.: T 5 N, R 28 W s. 17, 500 m, ( JTLC) . San Diego Co.: National City ( USNM) ; Vista ( USNM) ; Camp Pendleton ( LACM) ; 5 mi NE Poway , 600 m ( UCDC) ; Mt. Laguna, MSP Site, 6050 ft. ( LACM) ; Mira Mar , Elliot Reserve (32.84 º N 117.11 º W) ( JAKC) . Yolo Co.: Davis ( LACM, PENN) .

MEXICO, BAJA CALIFORNIA: 28 km E Ensenada, 750 m (31 º 53 ' N 116 º 18 ' W) ( UCDC) ; San Carlos Canyon, 9.0 mi E Hwy 1,300 ft., mesic canyon bottom, sifted from litter (31 º 47.88 ' N 116 º 30.05 ' W) ( ARSU) .

DISCUSSION

The male form of this ant is unknown. This species appears to be primarily an ant of montane and foothill areas. Previously believed to occur only in California, recent extensive collection in Baja California has located this species there. All previous out of state records believed to apply to this species have proven to refer to the recently recognized shiny headed form of N. nigrescens (Ward 1999). Watkins (1972) described what he believed was the queen of N. californicus , however recent reexamination of the specimen in question (Ward, 1999) has led to the conclusion that it too is a representative of the shiny form of N. nigrescens .

Little is known about the feeding preferences of this species other than that it presumably attacks exclusively, or nearly so, other ant species. Ward (1999) lists the following as prey species of this ant: Messor andrei, Solenopsis molesta , Pheidole californica and P. hyatti . One of us (GCS) observed a portion of a raid on a Solenopsis xyloni colony; the raid was well underway when it was discovered. It was apparently a violent one with S. xyloni vigorously defending its nest. Whether or not the raid was successful from the standpoint of N. californicus is unknown but the ground was littered with dead and dying of both species.

Automontage images of N. californicus may be viewed at antweb. org.

The wingless phorid fly, Xanionotum hystrix Brues (Diptera: Phoridae ), has been associated with a colony of N. californicus collected in San Diego County, California (J. H. Hunt, pers. comm.).