Biology:Myrmecocystus

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Myrmecocystus[lower-alpha 1] is a North American genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. It is one of five genera that includes honeypot ants.[1] 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.[2] During the raids, they carry off larvae, workers, and plerergates.[3] The genus has three subgenera, namely Myrmecocystus, Endiodioctes, and Eremnocystus.[4]

Species

  • Subgenus Myrmecosystus
    • Myrmecocystus christineae Snelling, 1982
    • Myrmecocystus ewarti Snelling, 1971
    • Myrmecocystus melanoticus Wheeler, 1914
    • Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael, 1838
    • Myrmecocystus navajo Wheeler, 1908
    • Myrmecocystus pyramicus Smith, 1951
    • Myrmecocystus testaceus Emery, 1893
  • Subgenus Endiodioctes
  • Subgenus Eremnocystus
    • Myrmecocystus arenarius Snelling, 1982
    • Myrmecocystus colei Snelling, 1976
    • Myrmecocystus creightoni Snelling, 1971
    • Myrmecocystus hammettensis Cole, 1938
    • Myrmecocystus lugubris Wheeler, 1909
    • Myrmecocystus perimeces Snelling, 1976
    • Myrmecocystus snellingi Bolton, 1995
    • Myrmecocystus tenuinodis Snelling, 1976
    • 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

Notes

  1. from Koine Greek μυρμήκιον (myrmécion) 'ant' and κύστις (cýstis) 'bladder, sac'

References

  1. Morgan, R. Biology, husbandry and display of the diurnal honey ant Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
  2. 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. PMID 12737658. 
  3. "Honey Ant War Games End in Slavery". Science News 109 (23/24): 358. 1976. doi:10.2307/3960982. 
  4. "Genus Myrmecocystus (North American Honeypot Ants)". https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/69331-Myrmecocystus. 

Wikidata ☰ Q1933520 entry