Scientific Name:  Pogonomyrmex spp
Order:  Hymenoptera
Family:  Formicidae
Diet:  Grass and wildflower seeds.
Vegetation Association:  They build nests underground where they can store and grow food. Host plants are annuals and grasses.
Predators:  Horned Lizards, other lizards and birds.
Life Stages:  They hatch from eggs and go through many larval stages before becoming adults.
Notes:  An ant colony raises reproductive ants that are released and come together at a mating swarm.  Females may mate several times and can store sperm for the lifetime of her colony, or up to 20 years.  These are social insects.  Stings from this at can cause extreme pain and discomfort.