Biology:Stereomyrmex

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Short description: Genus of ants

Stereomyrmex
Stereomyrmex horni casent0178593 profile 1.jpg
Stereomyrmex horni worker
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Stereomyrmex
Emery, 1901
Type species
Stereomyrmex horni
Emery, 1901
Diversity[1]
3 species
Synonyms

Willowsiella Wheeler, 1934

S. dispar worker

Stereomyrmex is a genus of myrmicine ants. Two of the described species are known from only a single worker, making this one of the rarest groups of ants in the world.[2]

Biology

The single specimen of S. anderseni was caught in a pitfall trap, and nothing is known about its biology.[citation needed]

Systematics

Stereomyrmex is probably the sister taxon to Romblonella. Closely related genera are Leptothorax and Cardiocondyla.[3]

Description

Stereomyrmex dispar is 3.2 mm long and black, with yellowish brown mandibles, antennae, legs and terminal segments of gaster. S. anderseni is only 2 mm long, has a very different petiolar and postpetiolar structure and is paler in color.[3]

Distribution

Stereomyrmex dispar has been described from a single worker, taken in 1933 on Bellona Island, Solomon Islands; no other specimen has since been found, and it is unlikely that the species is truly endemic to Bellona. S. anderseni is known from a single worker as well.[3] S. horni was collected under rocks in Sri Lanka.[4]

Names

The genus was originally named in honor of Maurice Willows Jr., who collected the type specimen of S. dispar.[5] S. anderseni was collected by A.N. Andersen. S. horni was collected by W. Horn.[citation needed]

Species

  • Stereomyrmex anderseni (Taylor, 1991) — King Edward River, Western Australia
  • Stereomyrmex dispar (Wheeler, 1934) — Bellona, Solomon Islands
  • Stereomyrmex horni Emery, 1901 — Sri Lanka

References

  1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Stereomyrmex". AntCat. http://antcat.org/catalog/429954. 
  2. Australian Ants Online: Genus Stereomyrmex
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Taylor, Robert W. (1991). "Notes on the ant genera Romblonella and Willowsiella, with comments on their affinities, and the first descriptions of Australian species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)". Psyche 97 (3–4): 281–298. doi:10.1155/1990/29514. 
  4. Emery, Carlo (1901): Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1901: 113-122. PDF
  5. Wheeler, William M. (1934): Formicidae of the Templeton Crocker Expedition, 1933. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 21(4): 173-181. PDF

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q1951042 entry