Florida Harvester Ant

Florida Harvester Ant

Pogonomyrmex badius

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Miami

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

145 Verified sightings at Miami
31 In 1 park From 2019 to 2026
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Florida Harvester Ant

Pogonomyrmex badius, or the Florida harvester ant, is a species of harvester ant in the genus Pogonomyrmex. It is the only Pogonomyrmex species found on the east coast of the United States and the only one in North America known to be polymorphic. The Florida Harvester ant is commonly found in Florida scrub and other similar habitats within the Atlantic coastal plain.

P. badius is a relatively large species of harvester ant present throughout Florida scrub and are one of the most notable and unique inhabitants of the ecoregion. The workers are highly polymorphic, ranging from 6.35 mm for the smallest workers to 9.52 mm for the largest majors which can rival the queen (10 - 12 mm) in size.

Both queens, majors and intermediates have disproportionately large heads, while minors have a more narrow complexion when viewed at the front. Under normal circumstances this species lacks epinotal spines which sit parallel on the propodeum though these spines may occasionally be present.

The Florida Harvester ant is a highly active diurnal species well adapted to the hot and dry habitats of the southeastern United States. Colonies are near exclusively... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Miami 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Orlando 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Florida Harvester Ant in Miami?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Florida Harvester Ant sighting in Miami on a given day, based on 145 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 88th most-seen of the 826 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Florida Harvester Ant in Miami?

July and September–May

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Florida Harvester Ant in Miami on a given day, against under 5% in June and August, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Florida Harvester Ant?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Florida Harvester Ant sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Miami the best place to see a Florida Harvester Ant?

Yes

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Florida Harvester Ant sightings, Miami has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Orlando (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Florida Harvester Ant sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Florida Harvester Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Miami (145 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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