Zach Prusak
email: zprusak@brevardparks.com

     The Southern harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) is a common sight in the dry scrub habitats of Florida. The usual color for these interesting critters is brick-red, but a black color mutation was sighted in a large colony in Brevard County. Five specimens were collected (all minors). Has anyone else observed such an occurrence, with this species or other ants? I apologize for these pictures; I took them with a digital camera held up to the microscope! High-tech!