| Gnamptogenys triangularis | |
|---|---|
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| Gnamptogenys triangularis worker from the United States | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Genus: | Gnamptogenys |
| Species: | G. triangularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Gnamptogenys triangularis (Mayr, 1887) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Gnamptogenys triangularis is a Neotropical species of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. Native to the forests of South and Central America, G. triangularis is a predatory ant that feeds on millipedes. In its native range, this species is known from Buenos Aires, Argentina in the south to Costa Rica in the north, with records from eight countries in South America, and two countries of Central America. The first records of G. triangularis outside its native range came from Florida beginning in 1985 and Alabama in 1996. [1]
Based on its South American range, it appears that G. triangularis has the potential to spread to forests throughout much of the southeastern United States. There are no documented impacts of G. triangularis, and it seems unlikely that this species will ever become a major pest. [1]
Gnamptogenys triangularis was originally described by Mayr as Ectatomma triangulare in Uruguay in 1887. [2] [3] Junior synonyms include Ectatomma triangulare richteri, described in 1913 in Argentina and Ectatomma aculeaticoxae, [4] described from Haute Carsevenne, French Guiana in 1921 (now Alto Rio Calçoene, Brazil). [5]
Gnamptogenys triangularis is a relatively large, black ant with more reddish legs that is characterized by deep longitudinal grooves and ridges that the run the lengths of the head, mesosoma and gaster. Little is known about the ecology of the ant, other than that it is believed to be a millipede specialist and is associated with humid forests and arboreal foraging. [6]
Gnamptogenys triangularis and Gnamptogenys hartmani are the only two members of the subfamily Ectatomminae known to occur in the southeastern United States. These very distinctive ants can be recognized immediately by the deep horizontal grooves covering the entire head and body. G. triangularis workers are ~5.0 mm in length and dark brown. Females are similar in appearance to workers, but are slightly larger (~5.5 mm in length) and have brownish gray colored wings. Males are approximately the same length as females (~5.5 mm), but are wasp-like in appearance and differ considerably from workers and females. The deep horizontal grooves characteristic of the genus are mostly absent except on the face and first gastral tergite. Sides of head, pronotum, much of the mesonotum, and gaster have reduced sculpture and are shiny, and the remainder of mesosoma and petiole are rugoreticulate. Males are bicolored with the head and mesosoma dark reddish black to black, petiole dark reddish brown, and gaster reddish orange. The legs, antennal scape, and first segment of funiculus are orangish red, the remainder of funiculus is gray, and the wings are dusky gray. In comparison, Gnamptogenys hartmani workers are 3.5–4.0 mm and pale reddish brown. Females are ~5 mm and similar in appearance to workers. Males are approximately the same size as females, but horizontal grooves are greatly reduced, and overall they are shinier in appearance. The entire body is reddish brown, legs and scapes are yellowish brown, and the funiculus is dark colored. [7]
Records of G. triangularis come from eight countries in South America (all except Chile, French Guiana, and Paraguay), and the two southernmost countries of Central America (Panama and Costa Rica). Because there are no discernible geographic barriers, it seems very likely that the native range of G. triangularis also extends into forest habitats in French Guiana, Paraguay, and farther north in Central America, but has not yet been recorded in these areas due to its rarity. [8] In its exotic range, G. triangularis is now known from Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Based on its South American range, it is possible that G. triangularis could spread to forests throughout much of the southeastern United States, perhaps as far north as Richmond, Virginia and Lexington, Kentucky. [5]
In both its native and exotic ranges, G. triangularis inhabits forests and preys on millipedes. There are no known impacts of G. triangularis, even though if this species was having a localized impact on millipede populations, it seems unlikely that this would have been detected. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that this species will ever become a major pest. [5]
Ponerinae, the ponerine ants, is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group, with about 1,600 species in 47 extant genera, including Dinoponera gigantea - one of the world's largest species of ant. Mated workers have replaced the queen as the functional egg-layers in several species of ponerine ants. In such queenless species, the reproductive status of workers can only be determined through ovarian dissections.
Brachymyrmex is a genus in the ants subfamily Formicinae. The genus can be recognized by the combination of having nine antennal segments and the petiole concealed by the gaster in dorsal view. They are sometimes called "rover ants".
Aenictus ceylonicus is a species of reddish brown army ant found in Southern India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and Australia. They are completely blind and around 3 mm in length. These ants are seen foraging underneath leaf litter in forests and well-vegetated areas, travelling in a trail of in three or more columns alongside each other, in parts of India. Their antennae, as in most species of Aenictus, have ten segments. The scape is long and extends above the head. The head is smooth and shiny. The mesosoma and the head region are dark brown, while the gaster is oval and lighter in colour, nearly translucent. The mesosoma is broad anteriorly and strongly compressed posteriorly. The petiole and the post petiole are large, conical and shining. They occur in rainforests and moist deciduous forests building temporary nests on the ground and in rotting logs.
Ochetellus glaber is a species of ant native to Australia. A member of the genus Ochetellus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, it was described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. Aside from Australia, O. glaber has been introduced to a number of countries, including China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States, where it has established itself in Hawaii and Florida. It has been found on Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Réunion, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. Compared with other ants, O. glaber is a small species, with workers measuring 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in). Males are the smallest at 1.6 mm (0.063 in), while the queens measure 5.2–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in). The ant's colour ranges from brown to black.
Tatuidris, or armadillo ant, is a rare genus of ants consisting of a single species, Tatuidris tatusia. The ants are small in size and inhabit the leaf litter of Neotropical forests in Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil. Workers are ferruginous-colored to dark red and present a distinctive morphology, consisting of a shield-like head with a broad vertex, ventrally-turned heavy mandibles which do not overlap at full closure, and unique among ants – an antenna socket apparatus sitting upside-down. Little is known about the biology of the ants, but they are likely nocturnal and specialist predators.
Gnamptogenys is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. The genus has a wide distribution. It is known to occur in the Nearctic, Neotropic, Indomalayan and Australasian realms.
Zigrasimecia is an extinct genus of ants which existed in the Cretaceous period approximately 98 million years ago. The first specimens were collected from Burmese amber in Kachin State, 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Myitkyina town in Myanmar. In 2013, palaeoentomologists Phillip Barden and David Grimaldi published a paper describing and naming Zigrasimecia tonsora. They described a dealate female with unusual features, notably the highly specialized mandibles. Other features include large ocelli, short scapes, 12 antennomeres, small eyes, and a clypeal margin that has a row of peg-like denticles. The genus Zigrasimecia was originally incertae sedis within Formicidae until a second species, Zigrasimecia ferox, was described in 2014, leading to its placement in the subfamily Sphecomyrminae. Later, it was considered to belong to the distinct subfamily Zigrasimeciinae.
Sphinctomyrmex stali is a Neotropical species of ants in the subfamily Dorylinae. Mayr described the genus Sphinctomyrmex with S. stali as its type species, based on a single dealate gyne. However, except for the holotype, there are no records of normal (alate) gynes for S. stali. All reproductive females collected after the original description are ergatoids.
Tetramorium bicarinatum, is a species of ant of the family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera that originated in South East Asia.
Archimyrmex is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Myrmeciinae, described by palaeoentomologist Theodore Cockerell in 1923. The genus contains four described species, Archimyrmex rostratus, Archimyrmex piatnitzkyi, Archimyrmex smekali and Archimyrmex wedmannae. Archimyrmex is known from a group of Middle Eocene fossils which were found in North America, South America, and Europe. The genus was initially placed in the subfamily Ponerinae, but it was later placed in Myrmeciinae; it is now believed to be the ancestor of the extant primitive genus Myrmecia from Australia. Despite this, Archimyrmex is not a member to any tribe and is regarded as incertae sedis within Myrmeciinae. However, some authors believe Archimyrmex should be assigned as incertae sedis within Formicidae. These ants can be characterised by their large mandibles and body length, ranging from 13.2 to 30 mm. They also have long, thin legs and an elongated mesosoma (thorax) and petiole.
The black-headed sugar ant, also known as the brown sugar ant, is a species of Formicinae ant endemic to Australia. Found throughout most states, the species is a member of the genus Camponotus, a cosmopolitan genus of ants commonly known as carpenter ants. It was formally described and named by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. These ants are characterised by their black head, reddish-brown mesosoma and black gaster, which can change in colour.
Pseudectatomma is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ectatomminae described by from fossils found in Europe. The genus contains two species dating from the Eocene, Pseudectatomma eocenica and Pseudectatomma striatula.
Pachycondyla lutzi is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described by from fossils found in Europe. P. lutzi is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.
Pachycondyla? messeliana is an extinct species of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described by from a fossil found in Europe. P.? messeliana is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.
Cephalopone is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. There are two described species placed into the genus, Cephalopone grandis and Cephalopone potens. Cephalopone is one several Lutetian Ponerinae genera.
Cyrtopone is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. There are four described species placed into the genus, Cyrtopone curiosa, Cyrtopone elongata, Cyrtopone microcephala, and Cyrtopone striata. Cyrtopone is one several Lutetian Ponerinae genera.
Messelepone is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. M. leptogenoides is the only species assigned to the genus, which is one of several Lutetian Ponerinae genera.
Gerontoformica is an extinct genus of stem-group ants. The genus contains thirteen described species known from Late Cretaceous fossils found in Asia and Europe. The species were described between 2004 and 2016, with a number of the species formerly being placed into the junior synonym genus Sphecomyrmodes.
Nylanderia pygmaea is an extinct species of formicid in the ant subfamily Formicinae known from fossils found in the Prussian Formation of the Baltic region.
Brachymyrmex patagonicus, also known as the black rover ant, is a species of Formicine ant native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and invasive in the United States and Europe. They were first reported in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana in 1978 from a single colony collected in 1976. It is believed that the species was introduced through New Orleans, which is a common entry point for many tropical species, but other locations such as Mobile, Alabama, or Pensacola, Florida, are also likely. For many years B. patagonicus, B. musculus, and B. obscurior were misidentified as being separate species but after a comparison of specimens from the Louisiana State University Arthropod Collection (LSUC), it was found that all three were the same species. B. patagonicus is considered a nuisance pest due to their tendency to infest man-made structures but have received a lack of attention because they do not bite, sting, or carry disease.