Pachycondyla
Schematic representation of a Pachycondyla - worker ( Wheeler, 1900)
Pachycondyla is an ant genus from the subfamily of Urameisen ( Ponerinae ).
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
Features
The body of all Pachycondyla species is rather small. The Stielchenglied ( petiole ) is towering high above and flattened so that the gaster and the Petiolarstigma are high about the same. The basic form of the mandibles is triangular. You are busy on the inside with small teeth and touch in the closed state, the edge of the head shield ( clypeus ). In Pachycondyla the tibiae of the posterior pair of legs each carry a comb-like spur and another, much smaller mandrel. Representatives of Pachycondyla show a close resemblance to ants of the genera Cryptopone, Ponera and Hypoponera.
In some species there is no gynomorphen queens and the propagation is handled by mated workers, so-called gamers landscaped grounds.
Dissemination
Worldwide known about 200 species. Most of them live in the Neotropics and the Paläotropis and Australia. In Eurasia only one kind Pachycondyla darwinii is represented. In the genus Pachyocondyla obviously is not a monophyletic group, the taxonomy is greatly in need of revision.
Way of life
The food consists in most species from captured arthropods. The workers usually hunt above ground and on trees, in some species, however, observe the animals only in the litter layer or other natural cavities on. A few species seem to have specialized in the hunting of termites; also the recruitment behavior is rudimentary pronounced among workers of at least one type, which is unusual for Urameisen.
The nests are located underground and are created either in open areas or in the protection of rocks and fallen trees.
System
Among others, the following species belong to the genus Pachycondyla (selection):
- Pachycondyla castanea
- Pachycondyla castaneicolor
- Pachycondyla darwinii
- Pachycondyla Harpax
- Pachycondyla javana
- Pachycondyla marginata
- Pachycondyla sublaevis
- Pachycondyla tarsata
- Pachycondyla verenae
Synonyms
The following names are synonyms for the genus Pachycondyla:
- Bothroponera Mayr, 1862
- Brachyponera Emery, 1901
- Ectomomyrmex Mayr, 1867
- Eumecopone Forel, 1901
- Hyphopelta Forel, 1913
- Mesoponera Emery, 1901
- Neoponera Emery, 1901
- Pseudoneoponera Donisthorpe, 1943
- Pseudoponera Emery, 1901
- Syntermitopone Wheeler, 1936
- Termitopone Wheeler, 1936
- Trachymesopus Emery, 1911
- Wadeura Weber, 1939
- Xiphopelta Forel, 1913