Stereomyrmex

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]

Stereomyrmex
S. horni worker
Scientific classification
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

Biology

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

Systematics

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

Description

S. 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

S. 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.

Species
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References
  1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Stereomyrmex". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. Australian Ants Online: Genus Stereomyrmex
  3. 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: 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


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