Iridomyrmex omalonotus

Iridomyrmex omalonotus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Genus:	Iridomyrmex
Species:	I. omalonotus
Binomial name
	Iridomyrmex omalonotus; Heterick & Shattuck, 2011

Last updated October 20, 2019

Iridomyrmex omalonotus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex . Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is endemic to Australia, and the ants are known for its attraction to honey, and attends to lycaenid caterpillars and other Hemiptera that produces honey.^[1]

Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the Cretaceous period, about 140 million years ago, and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than 12,500 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified. They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists.

Iridomyrmex, or the rainbow ant is a genus of ant first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. He placed it in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. There are 79 described species and five fossil species. Most of these ants are native to Australia; others are found in several countries and islands in Asia and other areas in Oceania, and they have been introduced to Brazil, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. Fossil species are known from China, France and the United States.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and East Timor to the north; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east. The population of 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard. Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

Etymology

The name is said to be derived from Greek omalus, 'flat' and Latin notus, 'back', in reference to the appearance of a worker's propodeum.^[1] The proper ancient Greek word for "flat" is however homalos (ὁμαλός) or homalēs (ὁμαλής).^[2]

Related Research Articles

Iridomyrmex adstringatus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. Recently described in 2011 by Heterick & Shattuck, the species is rare to find, as specimens of this species have only been collected in South Australia. The first specimens collected were from the Coorong National Park.

Iridomyrmex atypicus is a species of ant of the genus Iridomyrmex. It was recently described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011. Specimens recorded were only found in Lake Mere in New South Wales. They were only found in paddocks.

Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described in 2011, the ant is mainly confined to the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Iridomyrmex elongatus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex, described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011. Its biology is almost unknown, but the distribution of the ant extends from Western Australia and into the Northern Territory.

Iridomyrmex gibbus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the biology of the ant is not exactly known, although it is known that the ant is distributed in several states and in Barrow Island in Australia.

Iridomyrmex gumnos is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the biology of the ant remains unknown, but it is distributed in South Australia and New South Wales.

Iridomyrmex hertogi is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is essentially unknown in terms of its habitat preference and biology, although specimens were collected in the Northern Territory.

Iridomyrmex longisoma is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is endemic to Australia, confined in Western Australia, and nests are known to inhabit into sandy soil.

Iridomyrmex macrops is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species is endemic to several states in Australia.

Iridomyrmex mirabilis is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is endemic to Australia.

Iridomyrmex neocaledonica is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011 and unlike most Iridomyrmex ants, the ant is endemic to New Caledonia.

Iridomyrmex niger is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species is endemic to multiple states in Australia.

Iridomyrmex phillipensis is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is the only species endemic to Australia to not actually live in the country itself, but instead lives in territory that belongs to Australia.

Iridomyrmex roseatus is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species has a northern temperate and tropical distribution in Australia, and can be found in most states, and the habitats of the ant may be similar to the preferences of the Meat ant species.

Iridomyrmex suchieroides is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. The ant was described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, and is endemic to almost all of Australia except for Tasmania.

Iridomyrmex tenebrans is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the ant is a rare species endemic to Australia, with only one specimen being collected in New South Wales.

Iridomyrmex tenuiceps is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species is widespread in Australia.

Iridomyrmex trigonoceps is a species of ant in the genus Iridomyrmex. Described by Heterick and Shattuck in 2011, the species is broadly distributed in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, but the species is relatively uncommon.

References

1 2 Shattuck, Brian E. Heterick & Steve (2011). Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) (PDF). Auckland, N.Z.: Magnolia Press. ISBN 978-1-86977-676-3 . Retrieved 2 January 2015.
↑ Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

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[Shattuck-1] 1 2 Shattuck, Brian E. Heterick & Steve (2011). Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) (PDF). Auckland, N.Z.: Magnolia Press. ISBN 978-1-86977-676-3 . Retrieved 2 January 2015.

[2] Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.