Myrmecocystus
| Myrmecocystus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Myrmecocystus sp. | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | Myrmecocystus Wesmael, 1838
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| Type species | |
| Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael, 1838
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| Diversity[1] | |
| 29 species | |
| Synonyms | |
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Endiodioctes Snelling, 1976 | |
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.[citation needed]. 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
- Myrmecocystus christineae Snelling, 1982
- Myrmecocystus colei Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus creightoni Snelling, 1971
- Myrmecocystus depilis Forel, 1901
- Myrmecocystus ewarti Snelling, 1971
- Myrmecocystus flaviceps Wheeler, 1912
- Myrmecocystus hammettensis Cole, 1938
- Myrmecocystus intonsus Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus kathjuli Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus kennedyi Snelling, 1969
- Myrmecocystus koso Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus lugubris Wheeler, 1909
- Myrmecocystus melanoticus Wheeler, 1914
- Myrmecocystus melliger Forel, 1886
- Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler, 1908
- Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael, 1838
- Myrmecocystus mimicus Wheeler, 1908
- Myrmecocystus navajo Wheeler, 1908
- Myrmecocystus nequazcatl Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus perimeces Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus placodops Forel, 1908
- Myrmecocystus pyramicus Smith, 1951
- Myrmecocystus romainei Hunt & Snelling, 1975
- Myrmecocystus semirufus Emery, 1893
- Myrmecocystus snellingi Bolton, 1995
- Myrmecocystus tenuinodis Snelling, 1976
- Myrmecocystus testaceus Emery, 1893
- Myrmecocystus wheeleri Snelling, 1971
- Myrmecocystus yuma Wheeler, 1912
Media
- Natural World: Empire of the Desert Ants, BBC TWO 10 August 2011, 8 pm BST; information about it on BBC Nature
References
- ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Myrmecocystus". AntCat. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ Morgan, R. Biology, husbandry and display of the diurnal honey ant Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kronauer, D. J. C.; Gadau, J.; Hölldobler, B. (2003). "Genetic Evidence for Intra- and Interspecific Slavery in Honey Ants (Genus Myrmecocystus)". Proceedings: Biological Sciences. 270 (1517): 805–810. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2288. JSTOR 3558609. PMC 1691314.
- ^ "Honey Ant War Games End in Slavery". Science News. 109 (23/24): 358. 1976. JSTOR 3960982.
External links
Media related to Myrmecocystus at Wikimedia Commons
