Pogonomyrmex

also known as Beard Ants or Red Harvester Ants. These ants are common New World ants, occurring primarily in the deserts of North, Central, and South America.

Most species are seed harvesters, others feed on a variety of items, especially dead or dying insects. Large quantities of seeds may be stored in their nests. Most species have a large psammophore or beard of coarse hairs on the ventral surface of the head, which are used to carry fine sand during the excavation of the nest.