Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: big red-and-black ants in Indio, California, 1 by Fruticosa

Fruticosa wrote:
I remember these big ants from decades ago, when I used to visit Indio, California as a kid. I'd be interested in knowing what species they are, out of long-term curiosity. I have other photos but they're all about the same so I'll post only one photo.

Indio is a desert city in Riverside County, California. These ants seem to make their holes in or near the date groves in Indio. There are also ant lion holes in the vicinity, no doubt to prey on these local ants. The front and middle sections of the ants are red, and their rear section is black. The penny in the photo should give an accurate indication of their size. This one hole was wide and ledge-like, and was in a fairly barren field in open sun, in a former date grove, near a row of planted oleander bushes.