Crematogaster (Acrobat Ant) pictures

The genus Crematogaster contains ants commonly known as "Acrobat Ants". This name was probably given to them because of the way they tip their abdomens forward over the top of their heads when they are upset, threatening to rub their tormentor with venom from the ant's stinger.

Crematogaster ants are fairly distinctive - the thin part of their body attaches to their heart-shaped abdomens below the centerline of the abdomen, giving Crematogaster a fairly unique appearance.

Around Phoenix, I typically see these ants at extrafloral nectaries on cacti during the day. They are mostly active at night, though - you can find active foraging columns after dark. In cooler parts of the state they are more active, and can often be found wandering around on plants, either going to extrafloral nectaries or tending to insects that produce honeydew.

Click on the thumbnails for larger versions of the pictures.

Here's where the name 'Acrobat Ant' comes from. The ant on the left has her abdomen arched forward in a manner characteristic for Crematogaster when they are upset.

A pair of Crematogaster side-by-side. For some reason, Crematogaster is often very passive when you disturb their nests under rocks.

A Crematogaster on a cholla cactus extrafloral nectary.

Another view of a Crematogaster and an extrafloral nectary.

And still another view.

Crematogaster on a scrub oak, just outside of Prescott. I could find neither nectaries nor insects that these guys were tending. They defended the oak quite vigorously, however.

A Crematogaster on a barrel cactus extrafloral nectary, in Tucson. This was at a really dry time of year in a really dry year.

A Crematogaster from the Whetstone Mountains tends a larval treehopper. The parent treehopper is partially shown at the top of the photo.

A typical view of a group of Crematogaster on a cholla cactus.

One of the dangers of photographing Crematogaster on extrafloral nectaries - look out for cholla cactus!

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