Dossier
Harvester ants
Coverage of Harvester ants in the Nexus archive.
- Mexico intercepts a trafficking scheme smuggling native ants to SE Asia
Mexican authorities intercepted 105 queen ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex, smuggled in plastic toys labeled as 'collectible figures' in a shipment bound for Laos. The ants were found in test tubes inside the toys, with 87 surviving and being released into a protected natural area, highlighting illegal wildlife trafficking linked to a niche hobby in Europe and Asia.
- Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert
Scientists in Arizona have discovered a unique ant symbiosis where tiny cone ants groom larger harvester ants, resembling underwater cleaning stations. The behavior involves smaller ants licking and nibbling the larger ants' bodies while they remain calm, indicating a mutualistic relationship.