Trophobiosis in the arboricolous ant Liometopum microcephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

Rediscovery of the ant genus Amyrmex Kusnezov (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its transfer from Dolichoderinae to Leptanilloidinae

The ant genus Amyrmex Kusnezov (1953), previously known only from several males collected more than fifty years ago in Tucumán, Argentina, is redescribed on the basis of more recent material from Argentina and Brazil. Using DNA sequence data from seven nuclear genes we investigate the phylogenetic position of Amyrmex and demonstrate that it is a member of the subfamily Leptanilloidinae, rather ...

Food and Bait Preferences of Liometopum occidentale (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)1

The velvety tree ant, Limetopum occidentale Emery, is commonly found in urban areas throughout the western U.S. and has been reported damaging structures. Foragers prefer sucrose, glucose, and honey sucanat solutions. Solid protein baits containing anchovy also were retrieved by workers. In the early summer, foragers were active both day and night. In the late summer when daytime temperatures e...

The Survivorship and Water Loss of Liometopum luctuosum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Liometopum occidentale (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Exposed to Different Temperatures and Relative Humidity

Two species of velvety tree ants, Liometopum luctuosum Wheeler, and Liometopum occidentale Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), are commonly found in the western Unites States from Washington to southern California. L. luctuosum is restricted to coniferous forests in the mountains in the southern range, whereas L. occidentale is found in the lowlands. The survivorship of workers of both species exp...

A North Florida Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Foraging behavior in the ant genus Messor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

The genus Messor consists of 113 species of seed harvesting ants that are found in grasslands, semi-arid areas and savannahs in both the Old and New World. A full spectrum of foraging strategies occurs in Messor, ranging from individual to group foraging, with the latter having evolved several times. This paper reviews foraging strategies and the underlying behavioral mechanisms found in specie...