Eutetramorium

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Eutetramorium
Eutetramorium monticellii casent0145852 profile 1.jpg
Eutetramorium monticellii worker from Comoros
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: Eutetramorium
Emery, 1899
Type species
Eutetramorium mocquerysi [1]
Emery, 1899
Diversity [2]
3 species

Eutetramorium is a small genus of ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae. To date it contains three species found in Madagascar and Comoros. [3]

Contents

Species

Description

The queen is extremely ergatoid in E. mocquerysi, alate in E. monticellii. In E. parvum a normal dealate queen is present in the type-series, but there is also a specimen that may be an ergatoid or a worker-queen intercaste, or possibly merely an oversized worker. Males are known only for E. mocquerysi, where it is smaller than conspecific workers. [3]

Taxonomy

This small genus was established by Emery (1899) for two conspicuous, large, darkly coloured Madagascan species that superficially resemble Tetramorium . Initially, Emery (1912, 1914) was of the opinion that the genus was referable to the tribe Myrmecinini, but Ashmead (1905) and Wheeler (1910) had already referred it to Tetramoriini, an opinion that Emery (1915, 1924) also came to accept. Bolton (1976) excluded Eutetramorium from Tetramoriini on morphological grounds, and tentatively transferred it to Myrmicini. This placement persisted until recently, when a molecular analysis of Myrmicini by Jansen & Savolainen (2010) showed that the monophyly of the tribe was dubious, and that Eutetramorium formed a clade with Huberia . The yet unpublished, more detailed, DNA analysis of Myrmicinae by Philip S. Ward has established that Eutetramorium belongs in a strongly supported, endemic Madagascan clade that also includes the other four genera: Malagidris , Myrmisaraka , Royidris and Vitsika . [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrmicinae</span> Subfamily of ants with cosmopolitan distribution whose pupae do not create cocoons

Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and in soil, rotting wood, under stones, or in trees.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crematogastrini</span> Tribe of ants

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<i>Diaphoromyrma</i> Genus of ants

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agroecomyrmecinae</span> Subfamily of ants

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<i>Tatuidris</i> Genus of ants

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<i>Simopone</i> Genus of ants

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<i>Blepharidatta</i> Genus of ants

Blepharidatta is a rare Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus, formed by predatory species whose small colonies nest in soil or leaf-litter, has up to seven species, but most of them are waiting for a formal taxonomic treatment or confirmation.

<i>Lordomyrma</i> Genus of ants

Lordomyrma is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae.

<i>Proatta</i> Genus of ants

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<i>Ankylomyrma</i> Genus of ants

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<i>Meranoplus</i> Genus of ants

Meranoplus is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. With over 80 valid species, it is predicted that over half of the Meranoplus diversity remains undescribed, most of these from Australia.

<i>Tyrannomyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Tyrannomyrmex is a rare tropical genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Three similar species, only known from workers, are recognized and share small eyes and edentate mandibles.

<i>Kartidris</i> Genus of ants

Kartidris is an Indomalayan genus of terrestrial ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Its six species are known from mountainous areas in China, Thailand and India.

<i>Myrmisaraka</i> Genus of ants

Myrmisaraka is a Malagasy genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described in 2014, the genus contains two species.

Malagidris is a Malagasy genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described in 2014, the genus contains six species.

<i>Vitsika</i> Genus of ants

Vitsika is a Malagasy genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described in 2014, the genus contains 14 species.

<i>Royidris</i> Genus of ants

Royidris is a Malagasy genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described in 2014, the genus contains 15 species endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Trichomyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Trichomyrmex is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described by Mayr in 1865, it was raised as a genus in 2015. These ants are endemic to multiple continents.

References

  1. "Genus: Eutetramorium". antweb.org. AntWeb . Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  2. Bolton, B. (2014). "Eutetramorium". AntCat. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Bolton, Barry; Fisher, Brian L. (2014), "The Madagascan endemic myrmicine ants related to Eutetramorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): taxonomy of the genera Eutetramorium Emery, Malagidris nom. n., Myrmisaraka gen. n., Royidris gen. n., and Vitsika gen. n.", Zootaxa , 3791 (1): 1–99, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3791.1.1 , PMID   24869996