The above image shows a single amber twig ant collected 1 November 2013 on the stem of a flowering female shrub that keys out to chaparral broom B. sarothroides, although it is probably a fall-blooming Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea). All of the nearby shrubs are coyote brush, and I have often seen scattered shrubs in coyote brush populations that more closely resemble chaparral broom (B. sarothroides), particulary in the fall-blooming months. Other ants in the area (Tapinoma sessile and Formica aerata) appeared interested in the numerous flowering heads of seed-bearing achenes on female coyote brush.

Stem Ant Queen (Pseudomyrmex apache)

In late November 2015 I noticed a coyote brush (Baccharris pilularis ssp. consanguinea) on the north side of Owens Peak with a swollen stem and entrance/exit hole. I brought the stem home to determine if anyone was inside. Several weeks later (10 Dec 2015) I discovered a twig ant who had apparently crawled out of the opening. Based on the body length and wing scars, this was probably a queen. In addition, her head was a little more rectangular and elongate than workers. There were no eggs, larvae or workers inside the gall-shaped stem; however there were a few unidentified insect body parts. Most authorities state that she takes advantage of pre-existing cavities in stems made by insects, such as wood-boring beetles. This remarkable ant is undoubtedy nesting in coyote brush stems at Daley Ranch.

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