Pogonomyrmex barbatus red harvester ant worker, carrying a seed back to the nest. Tucson, Arizona, USA

Pogonomyrmex barbatus red harvester ants, at the nest entrance. Tucson, Arizona, USA

Among the most conspicuous North American seed harvesting ants is Pogonomyrmex californicus. Companies that sell Ant Farms as educational toys commonly use this species to stock their product, even though it packs a very painful sting. Fallon, Nevada, USA