Polyergus mexicanus is a species of slave-making ant in the subfamily Formicinae. It is the most widely distributed species of Polyergus in North America. It is an obligatory social parasite, unable to feed itself or look after the colony and reliant on ants of another species, Formica, to undertake these tasks. The parasitic ants are known as "dulotics" (from the Greek δοῦλος doulos, meaning a slave) and the ants they parasitise are known as "hosts".
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Western Amazon Ant being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Polyergus topoffi
- Polyergus rufescens
- Polyergus montivagus
- Formica bradleyi
- Polyergus sanwaldi
- Manica hunteri
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Formicidae
- Genus
- Polyergus
- Species
- Polyergus mexicanus
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