Solenopsis fugax
Yellow thief ant ( Solenopsis fugax )
The Yellow thief ant ( Solenopsis fugax ), also known as thieving dwarf ant, is a species of ant of the subfamily of red ants ( Myrmicinae ). It is characterized by its kleptoparasitäre lifestyle and comes inter alia in Central Europe.
- 4.1 Synonyms
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The tiny workers are colored bright yellow and have a body length of about 1.5 to about three millimeters. The compound eyes are small and consist of only six to nine individual Ommatiden. The propodeum is steeply sloping to the rear and bears no spines. The males and queens have a dark brown to black in color and are much larger than the workers. The males are 3.5 to 5 millimeters long, the females 5 to 6.5 millimeters. The Yellow thief ant is equipped with an effective poison sting. Your stitch is relatively harmless to humans, unlike some other members of the fire ants.
Dissemination
The species is widespread in Central and Southern Europe and also native to the British Isles. North of the Alps Solenopsis fugax is the only representative of the fire ants. It comes in southern Sweden sporadically before until the 58th degree of latitude. Resistant populations, however, are only to be found in warmer areas. At climatically favorable areas in central and southern Germany it is sometimes quite often. She uses mainly flat, heat- favored locations with dry, sandy ground with sparse vegetation or dry lawn. Also, stony, rocky ground and urban areas are populated.
Way of life
The colonies are quite strong folk, often with some 100,000 workers and multiple queens. The type is very aggressive toward nest disturbance. In a short time, a large number of workers are being recruited to fight. You put a sting and their effective use against other ants a deterrent Repellentsubstanz.
Nutrition
The Yellow thief ant feeds kleptobiotisch for larger ant species. It uses a part of the registered prey of their hosts, but mainly the eggs, larvae and pupae. Even without this kind host ants is viable and can feed on carrion and small arthropods. In addition, it operates trophobiosis with subterranean leaf and scale insects. If in the diet in addition to the Kleptobiose other food sources are used, created much larger workers, so-called " major" workers. In purely kleptobiotischer diet, there are only very small workers.
Nesting
The nests are always built underground in the open field or in the protection of stones. Often they are located in the immediate vicinity of the nests of their host ants. Small, narrow passageways of 1 millimeter in diameter result in the alien nests to provide access for raids. The other ants can not follow through the narrow aisles.
Reproduction
The swarming is between late August and early October. The reproductives swarm on warm afternoons, both in sunny and in cloudy days. Most are held the main swarms zwischen 11.00 und 15.00 clock. The mating takes place in flight. Huge clouds of flying animals are doing in the air. Then the young queens lay out or fall on Paarungsort to the ground and throw off the wings. The colony founding is usually claustral. Often young queens are also resumed the mother nest. In addition, colony -ups can also be done via twig nest formation.
System
Occasionally the yellow thief ant is placed in the subgenus Diplorhoptrum.
The name Solenopsis fugax is not really backed up because type specimens in the Muséum national d' histoire naturelle are apparently not to be found in Paris. The original description by Latreille does not allow for species diagnosis.
Synonyms
From the literature the following synonyms for Solenopsis fugax are known:
- Myrmica flavidula Nylander
- Solenopsis fugax var kasalinensis Emery
- Solenopsis orbula var latroides Ruzsky
- Solenopsis fugax subsp. orientalis Ruzsky
- Solenopsis ( Diplorhoptrum ) var fugax debilior Santschi
- Solenopsis ( Diplorhoptrum ) fugax var pontica Santschi
- Solenopsis ( Diplorhoptrum ) fugax var Scythica Santschi