Pogonomyrmex californicus
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
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 |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a California Harvester Ant sighting in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, based on 148 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 10th most-seen of the 190 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a California Harvester Ant in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in December and January, 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.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate California Harvester Ant sightings, Joshua Tree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Death Valley National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the California Harvester Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Joshua Tree National Park (148 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.
