Myrmecocystus

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Myrmecocystus
HoneyAnt.jpg
Myrmecocystus sp.
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Lasiini
Genus: Myrmecocystus
Wesmael, 1838
Type species
Myrmecocystus mexicanus
Wesmael, 1838
Diversity [1]
29 species
Synonyms

EndiodioctesSnelling, 1976
EremnocystusSnelling, 1976

Contents

Myrmecocystus is a North American genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. It is one of five genera that includes honeypot ants. [2] Worker ants keep and tend plerergates, which are other ants that store large quantities of nutritious fluid in their abdomens to feed the colony during famine times. Some species engage in highly territorial tournaments, which can result in intraspecific slavery. [3] During the raids, they carry off larvae, workers, and plerergates. [4]

Species

Media

Related Research Articles

Formicinae Subfamily of ants

The Formicinae are a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.

Myrmicinae 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.

<i>Dorymyrmex</i> Genus of ants

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<i>Odontomachus</i> Genus of ants

Trap-jaw ants are a genus (Odontomachus) of omnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.

<i>Aphaenogaster</i> Genus of ants

Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants. About 200 species have been described, including 18 fossil species. They occur worldwide except in South America south of Colombia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Antarctica.

<i>Crematogaster</i> Genus of ants

Crematogaster is an ecologically diverse genus of ants found worldwide, which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster (abdomen), which gives them one of their common names, the Saint Valentine ant. Members of this genus are also known as cocktail ants because of their habit of raising their abdomens when alarmed. Most species are arboreal. These ants are sometimes known as acrobat ants.

<i>Tetramorium</i> Genus of ants

Tetramorium is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae that includes more than 520 species. These ants are also known as pavement ants.

Crematogastrini Tribe of ants

Crematogastrini is a tribe of myrmicine ants with 64 genera and 8 fossil genera.

<i>Acropyga</i> Genus of ants

Acropyga is a genus of small formicine ants. Some species can be indirect pests. A. acutiventris, which is found from India to Australia, tends subterranean, root-feeding mealybugs of the species Xenococcus annandalei. Living, gravid females are carried in the jaws of A. acutiventris queens during their nuptial flight, to establish the symbiotic association in founding colonies. Other Acropyga species have relationships with different species of mealybugs, and it could be a trait common to the whole genus.

<i>Aenictus</i> Genus of ants

Aenictus is a large army ant genus distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics. It contains about 181 species, making it one of the larger ant genera of the world.

<i>Procryptocerus</i> Genus of ants

Procryptocerus is a Neotropical genus of gliding ants, with the ability to "parachute" by steering their fall if they drop off of the tree they're on.

<i>Hypoponera</i> Genus of ants

Hypoponera is a genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. The genus has a worldwide distribution and is found in all continents except Antarctica.

<i>Trachymyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Trachymyrmex is a genus of fungus-growing ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is mainly tropical in distribution, with most species being found in Central and South America.

<i>Azteca</i> (ant) Genus

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<i>Neivamyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Neivamyrmex is a genus of army ants in the subfamily Dorylinae.

<i>Cataulacus</i> Genus of ants

Cataulacus is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is distributed in the Paleotropical regions, mainly in the Afrotropics. Most species are found in forests, but a few are known from more open and arid habitats.

<i>Stenamma</i> Genus of ants

Stenamma is a genus of cryptic leaf-litter ants that occurs in mesic forest habitats throughout the Holarctic region, Central America, and part of northwestern South America.

References

  1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Myrmecocystus". AntCat. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. Morgan, R. Biology, husbandry and display of the diurnal honey ant Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Kronauer, D. J. C.; Gadau, J.; Hölldobler, B. (2003). "Genetic evidence for intra- and interspecific slavery in honey ants (genus Myrmecocystus)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 270 (1517): 805–810. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2288. JSTOR   3558609. PMC   1691314 . PMID   12737658.
  4. "Honey Ant War Games End in Slavery". Science News. 109 (23/24): 358. 1976. doi:10.2307/3960982. JSTOR   3960982.