| Technomyrmex jocosus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A drone of Technomyrmex jocosus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Technomyrmex |
| Species: | T. jocosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Technomyrmex jocosus Forel, 1910 | |
Technomyrmex jocosus is a species of ant in the genus Technomyrmex , and one of the species referred to as the white-footed ant.
Technomyrmex jocosus is often misidentified as Technomyrmex albipes , which also shares the common name of white-footed ant. However, T. jocosus workers measure to 3.0 to 3.4 mm (0.12 to 0.13 in) in length and have 12 segments in their antennae. [1] A distinguishing feature that sets T. jocosus apart from T. albipes is the arrangement of the setae on their head, as T. jocosus has a pair of setae on the back of its head behind the eyes. [2] Additionally, T. jocosus can can be identified by its longer dorsal setae on its abdomen. [1]
The head of T. joccus is shinier and less sculpted compared to T. albipes, and the compound eyes of T. jocosus are larger than those of T. albipes. [3] T. jocosus also lacks a petiolar node, a section just before the abdomen, which differentiates it from other common ant genera within its distribution. [3]
Technomyrmex jocosus is a very common Technomyrmex species that is native to Australia. [3] This species can be found in both south-eastern and south-western Australia, particularly around moderately moist, thick wooded areas like forests. It can also be found nesting in suburban areas like fence posts, gardens and can often invade homes. However, T. jocosus has never been spotted in drier areas like the Outback. [3] T. jocosus has also been spotted in New Zealand as an invasive species; while it can be detected and removed at national borders, its nests can be found in open country and forests. [4]
T. jocosus can be found in suburban, forested and open areas in New Zealand's North Island. After they were accidentally introduced, they spread through the suburban areas of the North Island's ports and inhabit the moister open forests which they find suitable for nesting. [1] Just like in Australia, T. jocosus can also be found underneath rotten logs, crevices, and even housing wall cavities which makes them a household pest. [4] Populations of T. jocosus were found in parts of New Zealand's North Island, especially around Auckland and Wellington; however, the species has also been reported further the south, mainly around Marlborough but as far down as Christchurch. [5]
T. jocosus is a ground-dwelling species that generally forages arboreally for food. They also farm wild hemipteran species such as aphids for honeydew. [1] In Australia, large numbers of T. jocosus were found around Kauri trees ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ). T. jocosus primarily inhabits moderately moist habitats, dead wood, crevices and large cracks in stones and even underneath tree bark, which is important for their foraging habits as they look for prey and honeydew. [3]
T. jocosus's phenology is relatively unknown, though parallels may be referenced from describing the closely related species T. albipes. Technomyrmex species, especially T. albipes, have been known to send winged queens out on nuptial flights synchronously in May to mid-June to begin new nests; these queens will mate with males outside and from the same nest to ensure the eggs are fertilized for new nests. [6] Once arriving at a suitable location a new nest is formed and eventually the queen's job of laying eggs will be taken by intercastes (wingless females with reproductive organs) who have mated with wingless males outside the nest. [6]
Once the colony has been established, most of the egg-laying is done by the many intercastes within the nest which have spermatheca. [6] Though the queen may still exist in the nest, she becomes dealate and loses her wings. The queens have a much larger body size to begin the initial creation of the nests' population and are capable of laying many more eggs than intercastes. [7]
T. jocosus is a generalist scavenger, often foraging on open and forested habitats. [1] Not only do they search leaf litter and shrubs, they also forage arboreally and through mutualism with particular homopterans (leafhoppers) which the ants farm for honeydew. [8] Interestingly, food is not distributed through trophallaxis, but from special trophic eggs that are not meant for reproduction, but for consumption by colony members. [6]
Epacteon latifrons , a parasitic fly, is thought to have originated in Australia but has been observed attacking worker T. jocosus in New Zealand. [9]
The third instar of an Australian green lacewing species preys upon the pupae of Technomyrmex and other ant genera within their nests. [10] Italochrysa insignis larvae enter the brooding chamber and feed on Technomyrmex larvae. [10]
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified. They are easily identified by their geniculate (elbowed) antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists.
Vespula germanica, known colloquially as the European wasp, German wasp, or German yellowjacket, is a species of wasp found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, native to Europe, Northern Africa, and temperate Asia. It has spread and become well-established in many other places, including North America, South America, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. German wasps are part of the family Vespidae and are sometimes mistakenly referred to as paper wasps because they build grey paper nests, although strictly speaking, paper wasps are part of the subfamily Polistinae. In North America, they are also known as yellowjackets.
Vespula vulgaris, known as the common wasp, is a species found in regions that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. It is sometimes known in English as the European wasp, but the same name is used for the species Vespula germanica or German wasp. In 2010, the ostensible Vespula vulgaris wasps in North America were found to be a different species, Vespula alascensis.
Oecophylla smaragdina is a species of arboreal ant found in tropical Asia and Australia. These ants form colonies with multiple nests in trees, each nest being made of leaves stitched together using the silk produced by the ant larvae: hence the name 'oecophylla' [Greek for 'leaf-house'].
Nothomyrmecia, also known as the dinosaur ant or dawn ant, is an extremely rare genus of ants consisting of a single species, Nothomyrmecia macrops. These ants live in South Australia, nesting in old-growth mallee woodland and Eucalyptus woodland. The full distribution of Nothomyrmecia has never been assessed, and it is unknown how widespread the species truly is; its potential range may be wider if it does favour old-growth mallee woodland. Possible threats to its survival include habitat destruction and climate change. Nothomyrmecia is most active when it is cold because workers encounter fewer competitors and predators such as Camponotus and Iridomyrmex, and it also increases hunting success. Thus, the increase of temperature may prevent them from foraging and very few areas would be suitable for the ant to live in. As a result, the IUCN lists the ant as Critically Endangered.
Iridomyrmex is a genus of ants called rainbow ants first described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. He placed the genus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. It has 79 described species and five fossil species. Most of these ants are native to Australia; others are found in Asia and 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.
The meat ant, also known as the gravel ant or southern meat ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia. A member of the genus Iridomyrmex in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, it was described by British entomologist Frederick Smith in 1858. The meat ant is associated with many common names due to its appearance, nest-building behaviour and abundance, of which its specific name, purpureus, refers to its coloured appearance. It is among the best-known species of ant found throughout Australia; it occurs in almost all states and territories except for Tasmania. Its enormous distribution, aggression and ecological importance have made this ant a dominant species.
Technomyrmex albipes, commonly known as the white-footed ant, is a species of ant first described in 1861 from Sulawesi, Indonesia by the British entomologist Frederick Smith. Invasive pest ants in Florida, previously identified as T. albipes, have now been separated as Technomyrmex difficilis, both forming part of a species complex with a worldwide distribution.
Pheidole megacephala is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is commonly known as the big-headed ant in the US and the coastal brown ant in Australia. It is a very successful invasive species and is considered a danger to native ants in Australia and other places. It is regarded as one of the world's worst invasive ant species.
The longhorn crazy ant, also known as the black crazy ant, is a species of small Formicine ant. These ants are commonly called "crazy ants" because instead of following straight lines, they dash around erratically. They have a broad distribution, including much of the tropics and subtropics, and are also found in buildings in more temperate regions, making them one of the most widespread ant species in the world. This species, as well as all others in the ant subfamily Formicinae, cannot sting. However, this species can fire/shoot a formic acid spray from its abdomen when under attack by other insects or attacking other insects. When the longhorn crazy ant bends its abdomen while aiming at an enemy insect, it is typically shooting its hard-to-see acid.
Doleromyrma darwiniana is a species of ant in the genus Doleromyrma. Described by Forel in 1907, the species is endemic to Australia and introduced to New Zealand, and it nests in soil or under stones and logs. The organism grows to a length between 2.0 and 3.0 millimeters. This species of ant maintains small colony sizes and it "prefers protein food." The species is also known by some sources as the "brown house ant" and "Darwin's ant". The species is considered a "minor urban pest" in New South Wales.
Ochetellus is a genus of ants first described by Steve Shattuck in 1992. He placed it in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae. The ants in this genus are small and black in colour; workers measure 1.75 to 3 millimetres in length, the males at around 1.6 millimetres (0.06 in) are smaller, and the queens are the largest, reaching 4 millimetres (0.16 in). There are seven described species and three described subspecies that mostly live in Australia in a wide variety of habitats, but some species are found in Asia. One species, Ochetellus glaber, has been introduced into New Zealand and the United States.
Technomyrmex is a genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae. With 98 species, it is one of the largest and most diverse ant genera in the Dolichoderinae. The genus distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical zones with most species occurring in the Oriental-Malesian and Afrotropical regions. One species, Technomyrmex albipes is a tramp ant now widespread throughout the tropics due to human activities.
Trichomyrmex destructor is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Its common names include destructive trailing ant or Singapore ant. It is a pest species in urban areas, known for causing costly damage to structures, vehicles, and electronic devices with its chewing activity. In 2015, the species was moved from the genus Monomorium to the revised genus Trichomyrmex.
An ergatoid is a permanently wingless reproductive adult ant or termite. The similar but somewhat ambiguous term ergatogyne refers to any intermediate form between workers and standard gynes. Ergatoid queens are distinct from other ergatogyne individuals in that they are morphologically consistent within a species and are always capable of mating, whereas inter caste individuals, another class of ergatogynes, often are not. Ergatoids can exhibit wide morphological differences between species, sometimes appearing almost identical to normal workers and other times being quite distinct from both workers and standard queens. In addition to morphological features, ergatoids among different species can exhibit a wide range of behaviors, with some ergatoids acting only as reproductives and others actively foraging. Ergatoid queens have developed among a large number of ant species, and their presence within colonies can often provide clues on the social structures of colonies and as to how new colonies are founded. Without wings, almost all species of ants that solely produce ergatoid queens establish new colonies by fission.
Camponotus herculeanus is a species of ant in the genus Camponotus, the carpenter ants, occurring in Northern Eurasia, from Norway to Eastern Siberia, and North America. First described as Formica herculeana by Linnaeus in 1758, the species was moved to Camponotus by Mayr in 1861.
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.
This is a glossary of terms used in the descriptions of ants.
Bengalla is a monotypic genus of Australian wandering spiders containing the single species, Bengalla bertmaini. It was first described by Michael R. Gray & Judith A. Thompson in 2001, and has only been found in Australia. It was originally assigned to the superfamily "Lycosoidea", but not to any actual family. In 2003, it was tentatively moved to the Ctenidae because of its apparent relationship to Janusia, another Australian monotypic genus of wandering spiders.