Dicroaspis

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Dicroaspis
Dicroaspis cryptocera casent0401720 profile 1.jpg
Dicroaspis cryptocera worker from the Central African Republic
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Dicroaspis
Emery, 1908
Type species
Dicroaspis cryptocera
Emery, 1908
Diversity [1]
2 species
Synonyms

GeognomicusMenozzi, 1924

Dicroaspis is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. [2]

Contents

Distribution

Known from central Africa, the genus contains two species. However, due to the little material available, they may represent variations the same species. [3] A third hitherto undescribed species is known from Kakamega Forest, Kenya. [4]

Description

The genus was first described by Emery (1908), but was reclassified a few years later as a subgenus of Calyptomyrmex by Emery (1915). The taxon was finally raised to genus rank by Bolton (1981). Workers are about 2.5–3 mm long and have small eyes. Their antennae with 11 segments can be used to separate Dicroaspis from the related and similar genus Calyptomyrmex. [3] Little is known about their biology, but they appear to live in the leaf litter of rainforests. [4]

Species

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References

  1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Dicroaspis". AntCat. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. "Genus: Dicroaspis". antweb.org. AntWeb . Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 Bolton, B. (1981). "A revision of the ant genera Meranoplus F. Smith, Dicroaspis Emery and Calyptomyrmex Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 42: 4381.
  4. 1 2 Hita Garcia, F.; Wiesel, E.; Fischer, G. (2013). "The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography". Journal of East African Natural History. 101 (2): 127. doi:10.2982/028.101.0201. S2CID   84797311.