Forelius pruinosus (Roger)
Figures 200-201

     Tapinoma anale André, 1893:148; o.
     Tapinoma pruinosum var. anale: Emery, 1895:333.
     Iridomyrmex analis: Forel, 1908:62. Emery, 1912:26. Eckert and Mallis, 1941:7; fig. 8; o.
     Iridomyrmex pruinosus var. analis: Wheeler 1913:497.
     Iridomyrmex pruinosus: M. Smith, 1924:83; o. M. Smith,
1929:241; o. M. Smith, 1965:54?55; fig. 29; o. Wheeler and -Wheeler, 1973:101?102; fig. 36; o _ _. Allred, 1982:478?479.
     Iridomyrmex pruinosum var. testaceus Cole, 1936:121; o. NEW SYNONYMY
     Iridomyrmex pruinosum: Creighton, 1950:341, 342-343; o.
     Iridomyrmex pruinosum analis: Creighton, 1950:34, 343; pl. -45; o _ _. Gregg, 1963:436?438; map; o. Cole, 1966:18; _.
     Forelius pruinosus: Snelling and George, 1979:163, 166-167; Wheeler and Wheeler, 1986:57. Cuezzo 2000:261-263, in part.

     RANGE: Western Texas to California, north to Idaho, south to central Mexico.

     DESERT RECORDS. Map 7. Throughout the desert areas but
sporadic; 87 records.

     DISCUSSION. The recent recognition of F. analis as a species distinct from F. pruinosus is possibly correct and we are following her usage here. However, there remain some problems with her treatment. For example, although she gives the range of F. pruinosus as Cuba, Mexico (State of Jalisco & "Palma Sola") and United States (Florida), she includes as a synonym, Iridomyrmex pruinosus var. testaceus Cole (misspelled as "testaceous"), a taxon described from Idaho. We have examined a long series of syntypes of var. testaceus and can affirm that it should be relegated to the synonymy of F. analis as that taxon is defined by Cuezzo.
     This widely distributed ant is common over much of our area, from elevations between -190' and 4300'. It occupies the same sort of habitats as those described for F. mccooki, and has similar nesting habits. Foraging files may be seen going over
rocky areas and along plant stems lying on the ground. It seems
to possess the same tolerance for high temperatures as does F. mccooki.
     Workers have been observed foraging from 1000 until 1900 hrs. Nest debris indicates that flies, beetles and ants are common prey items. The foragers have been observed taking nectar on Encelia farinosa, Chamaesyce spp., Bebbia juncea, Eriogonum inflatum, and Larrea tridentata. We have also observed this species soliciting aphids on Psorothamnus sp. and mealybugs on roots of Ambrosia dumosa.
     Known predators include the flat-tailed horned lizard, Phrynosoma mccallii and the western blind snake, Leptotyphlops humilis.
     Mating flights have been observed in April and in August.

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