Liometopum is a small Holarctic
genus of arboreal ants. The three New World species are limited
to western North America. One species is found along the western
margins of both the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. All of our records
for this species are apparently incursions along water courses.
These ants are commonly associated
with cottonwood and oak trees. Colonies are very populous and in
late afternoon long,
dense files of the workers may be seen moving between trees. When
disturbed, the ants are quite aggressive and spray attackers with
an especially disagreeable secretion. They are effective foragers
and, while apparently omnivorous, do capture insects. Aphids and
pseudococcids are tended for their secretions.
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