Pogonomyrmex californicus
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Pogonomyrmex californicus, or the California harvester ant, is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is native to North America, where it is found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is known as the ant species which is used by Uncle Milton's Ant Farm.
Pogonomyrmex californicus can be found in open, warm, and sandy areas. It typically forages during the day, both individually or in a group, forming columns as they work. It preys on arthropods, such as the larvae of the raisin moth (Cadra figulilella) and collects seeds. It can form colonies of thousands of individuals, with the average colony size being approximately 4,500 individuals. The nest entrances are often irregular and are surrounded by loose sand arranged in a circular or semi-circular pattern. Reproduction occurs mostly from May to July, typically during hot daytime conditions of 80–90 °F, with elevated afternoon humidity. However, in some parts of range, its nuptial flight may take place from April to August, if weather conditions permit.
Pogonomyrmex californicus are known to be facultatively polygynous, where colonies will occasionally contain multiple... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesa | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Phoenix | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a California Harvester Ant sighting in Death Valley National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 49th most-seen of the 108 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April, October and December
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a California Harvester Ant in Death Valley National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–February, May–September and November, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most California 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.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate California Harvester Ant sightings, Death Valley National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Joshua Tree National Park (United States, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the California Harvester Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Death Valley National Park (9 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
