Centromyrmex

Centromyrmex
Centromyrmex alfaroi worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Alliance:	Plectroctena genus group
Genus:	Centromyrmex Mayr, 1866
Type species
Centromyrmex bohemanni
Diversity [1]
15 species
Synonyms
GlyphoponeForel, 1913 LeptoponeArnold, 1916 SpalacomyrmexEmery, 1889 TyphloterasKaravaiev, 1925

Centromyrmex is a pantropical, though mainly Afrotropical, genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. This ponerine ant was recorded for the first time in French Guiana and the most northerly point of recording was in Costa Rica. The specimens reported here were collected in a region of Amazon Forest with flight interception traps.

Biology

They are predatory on termites, where a group hunting strategy may be employed, ^[2] or may prey more generally on invertebrates in the upper soil layer of forests. ^[3] Little is known about their biology, but workers lack eyes and are well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle by way of burrowing. They also are equipped with short, spiny, and powerful legs. Nest sites are usually found near or even inside of termite nests. ^[3]

Species

• Centromyrmex alfaroi Emery, 1890
• Centromyrmex angolensis Santschi, 1937
• Centromyrmex bequaerti (Forel, 1913)
• Centromyrmex brachycola (Roger, 1861)
• Centromyrmex decessor Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex ereptor Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex feae (Emery, 1889)
• Centromyrmex fugator Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex gigas Forel, 1911
• Centromyrmex hamulatus (Karavaiev, 1925)
• Centromyrmex longiventris Santschi, 1919
• Centromyrmex praedator Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex raptor Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex secutor Bolton & Fisher, 2008
• Centromyrmex sellaris Mayr, 1896

References

1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Centromyrmex". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
2. Dejean, A.; Fénéron, R. (20 September 1999). "Predatory behaviour in the ponerine ant, Centromyrmex bequaerti: a case of termitolesty". Behavioural Processes. 47 (2): 125–133. doi:10.1016/S0376-6357(99)00060-1. PMID   24896935. S2CID   24951981.
3. Schmidt, C. A; Shattuck, S. O. (2014). "The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior". Zootaxa . 3817 (1): 1–242. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1. PMID   24943802.

External links

• Media related to Centromyrmex at Wikimedia Commons