of a solitary male. Consequently, it is more desirable for the less attractive males to remain in the lek than to attempt to attract females on their own. Sexual selection Within reproductive aggregations of P. barbatus ants, strong male competition exists. Males engage in communal mating displays to attract females. Male ants attempt to mate with any female they encounter, but females resist copulation from the males. Consequently, the communal mating displays heavily favor reproduction with larger or more persistent males which are able to overpower the females and successfully copulate. The male ants copulate for as long as possible, likely to restrict access to the female from other males to ensure their sperm survives to reproduce. Predation Red harvester ants are a favorite food for desert horned lizards. Harvester ants defend their colonies vigorously against real or perceived attacks, whether by large or small animals. They may bite ferociously and their stings are venomous and painful. The effect spreads through the lymphatic system, sometimes causing dangerous reactions, especially in animals sensitive or allergic to their venom. Over the years, their numbers have been declining, and this has often been attributed to competition for food with the invasive red imported fire ant and the Argentine ant. Their decline has affected many native species, especially those for which the red harvester ant is a chief source of food, such as the Texas horned lizard. References External links EconTalk interview with Deborah Gordon and her research on Red harvester ants Pogonomyrmex Insects of Mexico Insects of the United States Hymenoptera of North America Fauna of California Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Fauna of the Southwestern United States Fauna of the Baja California Peninsula Insects described in 1858