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Species Details

Polyergus breviceps

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameSlave-Maker Ant or Amazons SeasonalityMay to September. IdentificationEasily identified by the lack of teeth on the mandibles. Raiders are ~4.7-6.8mm in length, with a red head and thorax with a darker abdomen. Antennal scapes do not surpass the occipital border (Wheeler and Wheeler, 1963, Fisher and Cover, 2007).
Scientific Name Polyergus breviceps Common Name Slave-Maker Ant or Amazons Habitat Found in areas where there slave species (Formica fusca group) are well established. Seasonality May to September. Identification
Easily identified by the lack of teeth on the mandibles. Raiders are ~4.7-6.8mm in length, with a red head and thorax with a darker abdomen. Antennal scapes do not surpass the occipital border (Wheeler and Wheeler,…
Easily identified by the lack of teeth on the mandibles. Raiders are ~4.7-6.8mm in length, with a red head and thorax with a darker abdomen. Antennal scapes do not surpass the occipital border (Wheeler and Wheeler, 1963, Fisher and Cover, 2007).
Life History
The life history of this species is heavily reliant on their slaves, from the Formica fusca group (Fisher and Cover, 2007). The queen, once she has mated finds a host nest and invades it, using a specialized Dufour's…
The life history of this species is heavily reliant on their slaves, from the Formica fusca group (Fisher and Cover, 2007). The queen, once she has mated finds a host nest and invades it, using a specialized Dufour's gland to suppress the host workers, and then kills the queen assuming control over the host colony (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990). Colonies are usually only made up of 300-500 Polyergus breviceps, but can have thousands of slaves (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990).
Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Are unable to feed themselves, but are fed all types of foods from their slaves. Range Found throughout much of the northern half of North America.

Citation

Page Citation for Polyergus breviceps

Page Citation

"Species Details - Polyergus breviceps, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-38654/9-415195. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Specimen Information

There are 3 specimens of this Species.

3 results plotted on map in 2 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM335082 - Polyergus breviceps

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAcorn, J. H. Date Collected2000-06-02

UASM335157 - Polyergus breviceps

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Opal Natural Area Collected ByGlasier, J. R. N. Date Collected2010-06-04

UASM335158 - Polyergus breviceps

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton Collected ByAcorn, J. H. Date Collected2000-06-02

Adult Seasonal Distribution