Species: Pogonomyrmex carbonarius
Taxonomic history (from RAJ):
Pogonomyrmex carbonarius Mayr, 1868: 172 (worker). Syntypes examined: 1 worker [NMW], ARGENTINA, Pampa de Sur, between the dry streambed of the Agua Caliente and Río del Diamante (February 1866, Strobel leg.). Mayr, 1887: 611 (male)(synonomy under rastratus; not confirmed here) (NMW as HOLOTYPE, by monotypy).
Pogonomyrmex rastratus var. carbonarius Emery, 1906: 157. See also Gallardo, 1932: 136, fig. 23. REVIVED STATUS AS SUBSPECIES OF RASTRATUS
Pogonomyrmex vermiculatus var. variabilis Santschi, 1916: 511 (worker, male). Syntypes examined:
1 worker [MHNG], 1 worker [MZUSP], ARGENTINA, Río Negro Province: Coral Chico (Dr. Lehmann, 6.III.1915). See also Gallardo, 1932: 142, figs. 28, 29 (MHNG worker here designated LECTOTYPE).
Pogonomyrmex variabilis Santschi; Kusnezov, 1951: 253. Raised to species. NEW SYNONOMY
Etymology: The specific epithet, carbonarius (from Latin, carbon = relating to coal, and – arius = suffix added to noun stems to form adjectives denoting belonging to), derives from the black coloration of this species. In his description, Mayr noted that this species was similar to P. rastratus, but black.
Species description: Mayr, 1968 (RAJ revision description)
Other literature: Gallardo, 1932; Kusnezov, 1951
Photos of all castes: lectotype worker, worker, alate queen, male