Megalomyrmex: Difference between revisions
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'''''Megalomyrmex''''' is a genus of [[ant]] in the |
'''''Megalomyrmex''''' is a [[genus]] of [[ant]] in the [[subfamily]] [[Myrmicinae]]. |
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The genus is known only from the [[Neotropics]], where some of the species are specialized parasites or predators of [[Attini]].<ref name="Longino_2010_35"/> |
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It is difficult to characterize morphologically. Bolton (2003) placed it in the [[tribe (biology)|tribe]] [[Solenopsidini]], but with multiple exceptions to the diagnostic characters for the tribe. The tribal characters include a bicarinate [[clypeus]] and a median clypeal seta. Most ''Megalomyrmex'' species have a smoothly convex clypeus with no trace of the bicarinate condition, and most have abundant clypeal [[setae]] with no distinct or differentiated median seta. In Bolton's (1994) key to genera, ''Megalomyrmex'' keys in multiple places because of variability in mandibular dentition. Nevertheless, the genus has a distinctive habitus: the antenna is 12-segmented with a 3-segmented club; the general integument is smooth and shiny without coarse sculpture or dull areas; the promesonotum is evenly arched, without promesonotal groove; the propodeum is usually smoothly curved between dorsal and posterior faces, at most with blunt, broad-based tubercles, and never with spines; and the hind tibial spur is simple. In short, the workers look like a ''[[Solenopsis (ant)|Solenopsis]]'' with ''[[Pheidole]]'' antennae. The mandibular dentition varies from a simple set of 5 similar teeth on the masticatory margin, gradually diminishing in size basally, to a condition with 2 large apical teeth followed by up to 12 small denticles.<ref name="Longino_2010_35"/> |
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Some species have unusual [[alkaloid]]s.<ref name="Longino_2010_35"/> The hypothesis that alkaloids act at a distance converges with what is known for the genera ''[[Solenopsis (ant)|Solenopsis]]'', ''[[Monomorium]]'' and ''Megalomyrmex'' when workers release volatile venom alkaloids by waving their stingers (i.e., [[gaster]] flagging) during interspecific encounters causing their enemies to flee.<ref name="Rifflet_et_al_2011_7"/> |
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Although widespread in the Neotropics, from southern [[Mexico]] to northern [[Argentina]], ''Megalomyrmex'' species are never abundant. They occur in low to middle elevation wet to dry forest habitats. Some species are free-living with large diffuse nests in the soil (e.g. ''[[Megalomyrmex modestus]]'') or small nests in dead wood (e.g. ''[[Megalomyrmex drifti]]''). Others are specialized social parasites or predators of Attini (e.g. ''[[Megalomyrmex mondabora]]'', ''[[Megalomyrmex symmetochus]]'', ''[[Megalomyrmex wettereri]]'').<ref name="Longino_2010_35"/> |
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It is close to ''[[Monomorium]]'' and should possibly be included in the latter.<ref name=heterick2006>Heterick, 2006</ref> |
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==Species== |
==Species== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist|refs= |
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{{Commons category|Megalomyrmex}} |
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<ref name="Longino_2010_35">{{harvnb|Longino|2010|p=35}}</ref> |
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<references /> |
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<ref name="Rifflet_et_al_2011_7">{{harvnb|Rifflet et al.|2007|p=7}}</ref> |
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}} |
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{{refbegin}} |
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*{{citation | last1 = Longino | first1 = John T. | title = A taxonomic review of the ant genus ''Megalomyrmex'' Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Central America | journal = [[Zootaxa]]| volume = 2720 | pages = 35–58 | year = 2010 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01681p046.pdf }} |
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*{{citation | last1 = Rifflet | first1 = A. | last2 = Tene | first2 = N. | last3 = Orivel | first3 = J. | last4 = Treilhou | first4 = M. | last5 = Dejean | first5 = A. | last6 = Vetillard | first6 = A. | editor1-last = Dornhaus | editor1-first = Anna | title = Paralyzing Action from a Distance in an Arboreal African Ant Species | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0028571 | journal = PLoS ONE | volume = 6 | issue = 12 | pages = 1–9 | year = 2011 | pmid = 22194854| pmc =3237465 |ref=CITEREFRifflet et al.2011}}} |
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{{refend}} |
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* ITIS: [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=574095 ''Megalomyrmex'' species list] |
* ITIS: [http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=574095 ''Megalomyrmex'' species list] |
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* {{aut|Heterick, Brian}} (2006): A Revision of the Malagasy Ants Belonging to Genus ''Monomorium'' <small>Mayr, 1855</small> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ''Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences'' '''57'''(3): 69-202. [http://www.calacademy.org/research/scipubs/pdfs/v57/proccas_v57_n03.pdf PDF] |
* {{aut|Heterick, Brian}} (2006): A Revision of the Malagasy Ants Belonging to Genus ''Monomorium'' <small>Mayr, 1855</small> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ''Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences'' '''57'''(3): 69-202. [http://www.calacademy.org/research/scipubs/pdfs/v57/proccas_v57_n03.pdf PDF] |
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==External links== |
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*{{commonscat-inline|Megalomyrmex|''Megalomyrmex''}} |
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[[Category:Myrmicinae]] |
[[Category:Myrmicinae]] |
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[[Category:Ant genera]] |
[[Category:Ant genera]] |
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{{ant-stub}} |
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Revision as of 10:41, 25 October 2013
| Megalomyrmex | |
|---|---|
| |
| M. symmetochus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: | Megalomyrmex Forel, 1885
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| Species | |
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M. symmetochus | |
| Diversity | |
| > 30 species | |
Megalomyrmex is a genus of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae.
The genus is known only from the Neotropics, where some of the species are specialized parasites or predators of Attini.[1]
It is difficult to characterize morphologically. Bolton (2003) placed it in the tribe Solenopsidini, but with multiple exceptions to the diagnostic characters for the tribe. The tribal characters include a bicarinate clypeus and a median clypeal seta. Most Megalomyrmex species have a smoothly convex clypeus with no trace of the bicarinate condition, and most have abundant clypeal setae with no distinct or differentiated median seta. In Bolton's (1994) key to genera, Megalomyrmex keys in multiple places because of variability in mandibular dentition. Nevertheless, the genus has a distinctive habitus: the antenna is 12-segmented with a 3-segmented club; the general integument is smooth and shiny without coarse sculpture or dull areas; the promesonotum is evenly arched, without promesonotal groove; the propodeum is usually smoothly curved between dorsal and posterior faces, at most with blunt, broad-based tubercles, and never with spines; and the hind tibial spur is simple. In short, the workers look like a Solenopsis with Pheidole antennae. The mandibular dentition varies from a simple set of 5 similar teeth on the masticatory margin, gradually diminishing in size basally, to a condition with 2 large apical teeth followed by up to 12 small denticles.[1]
Some species have unusual alkaloids.[1] The hypothesis that alkaloids act at a distance converges with what is known for the genera Solenopsis, Monomorium and Megalomyrmex when workers release volatile venom alkaloids by waving their stingers (i.e., gaster flagging) during interspecific encounters causing their enemies to flee.[2]
Although widespread in the Neotropics, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, Megalomyrmex species are never abundant. They occur in low to middle elevation wet to dry forest habitats. Some species are free-living with large diffuse nests in the soil (e.g. Megalomyrmex modestus) or small nests in dead wood (e.g. Megalomyrmex drifti). Others are specialized social parasites or predators of Attini (e.g. Megalomyrmex mondabora, Megalomyrmex symmetochus, Megalomyrmex wettereri).[1]
It is close to Monomorium and should possibly be included in the latter.[3]
Species
References
- ^ a b c d Longino 2010, p. 35
- ^ Rifflet et al. 2007, p. 7
- ^ Heterick, 2006
- Longino, John T. (2010), "A taxonomic review of the ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Central America" (PDF), Zootaxa, 2720: 35–58
- Rifflet, A.; Tene, N.; Orivel, J.; Treilhou, M.; Dejean, A.; Vetillard, A. (2011), Dornhaus, Anna (ed.), "Paralyzing Action from a Distance in an Arboreal African Ant Species", PLoS ONE, 6 (12): 1–9, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028571, PMC 3237465, PMID 22194854
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)}
- ITIS: Megalomyrmex species list
- Heterick, Brian (2006): A Revision of the Malagasy Ants Belonging to Genus Monomorium Mayr, 1855 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(3): 69-202. PDF
External links
Media related to Megalomyrmex at Wikimedia Commons
