Leptomyrmex
Leptomyrmex darling toni
Leptomyrmex (Greek: leptos "thin" and Myrmex " ant " ) is a genus of ants ( Formicidae ) of the subfamily of the glands of ants ( Dolichoderinae ).
- 6.1 Notes and references
- 6.2 Literature
Features
Members of this genus are quite large and have long legs, which is why they are called in English as " Spider Ants". The narrow body is black or reddish- yellow usually clearly colored, but also two-tone black and red. The SCAPI the antennae are very long. Well over half of the scape extends beyond the head silhouette beyond. On the underside of the head is centrally a semi-circular notch find below the mandibles. The mandibles bear 7 to 15 teeth and another 5 to 12 small teeth. In this genus ergatomorphe queens are the rule. These are wingless and differ from the workers only by their greater overall length and a larger Gaster. Only two species, the reproduction is taken over by gynomorphen queens. Similar Crematogaster ( Myrmicinae ) turn the animals to spill their gaster over the mesosoma to defense secretions forward.
Similar genera
Because of their size and the spider-like legs, the types of Leptomyrmex are hardly to be confused with other glands ants. However smaller species have a certain similarity with Iridomyrmex.
Dissemination
The 17 known species and their subspecies are native only to Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia as well as some smaller neighboring islands. They colonize moist savanna forests and rainforests where also at least one species from arid areas is known. The distribution area must sooner have been very much greater, because the fossil record in Central America are known.
Way of life
The nests are located underground in the open field or under trees. More rarely, dead wood is colonized. The animals move in search of food at the surface, either individually or in small groups, usually in twos or threes. They are active both during the day and at night. When they discovered major food sources, then other colony members from the nest to be recruited for transport. Some species in dry areas have specialized workers, so-called Repleten, the liquid food store in her abdomen ( honeypot ants).
System
The following species form the genus Leptomyrmex:
- Leptomyrmex contractus
- Leptomyrmex darling toni
- Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus
- Leptomyrmex flavitarsus
- Leptomyrmex fragilis
- Leptomyrmex froggatti
- Leptomyrmex lugubris
- Leptomyrmex mjobergi
- Leptomyrmex neotropicus
- Leptomyrmex niger
- Leptomyrmex nigriventris
- Leptomyrmex pallens
- Leptomyrmex puberulus
- Leptomyrmex unicolor
- Leptomyrmex varians
- Leptomyrmex wheeleri
- Leptomyrmex wiburdi
Others
The juveniles of the Australian Stick Insect similar with her black body and red head of this genus. Thus, they reflect a nonexistent Wehrhaftigkeit before ( Batesian mimicry ).