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Taxonomy
Formicidae
EOL Text
Ants
Ants are small.
But ants don't have a beard at all.
They're under the ground almost all the time,
But they just don't know how to rhyme.
Out your door and beneath your feet,
They're digging nonstop, with every heartbeat!
- Poem written by William in Ms. McCurdy's 3rd Grade Class, North Falmouth Elementary School.
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Rights holder/Author | Anne Thessen, Anne Thessen |
Source | No source database. |
In some parts of the world, including the United States, ant species have been accidentally brought in from other continents. These invader ants are causing a lot of problems.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Formicidae/ |
KEY TO CALIFORNIA ANT GENERA BASED ON THE WORKER CASTE
Morphological terminology follows Bolton (1994), on which much of this key is based. The term mesosoma is used in preference to alitrunk, to refer to the body part formed from fusion of the thorax and the first abdominal segment (i.e., thorax + propodeum). The promesonotum is that part of the mesosoma composed of the pronotum and the mesonotum. Metasoma refers to the apparent abdomen, comprising the segments posterior to the propodeum, i.e., abdominal segment 2 and succeeding segments. In ants abdominal segment2 forms a node- or scale-like petiole, which is separated by a constriction from the rest of the metasoma. In some species abdominal segment 3 is also node-like and in this case it is said to form a postpetiole.
The key has been designed to apply only to those ant species occurring in California but it should also work for most of western North America, excluding Arizona and New Mexico where additional genera occur.
1 Postpetiole present: abdominal segment 3 separated from segment 4 by a strong constriction and distinctly smaller in size, so that anteriorly the metasoma has two nodelike segments, the petiole and postpetiole .................................................................... 2
- Postpetiole absent: abdominal segment 3 separated from segment 4 by a weak to moderate constriction or by none at all, and when viewed in profile not distinctly smaller in size (height) than segment 4; metasoma anteriorly with a single, isolated node-like or scale-like segment ....................................................................................................... 26
2 Eye reduced to a single ommatidium or absent; antennal insertions fully exposed in a full-face view of head ( Ecitoninae HNS ) ........................................ Neivamyrmex Borgmeier HNS
- Eye very rarely reduced, usually consisting of multiple ommatidia; antennal insertions not fully exposed, covered partially by frontal lobes or medial extensions of the antennal sclerites, when the head is observed in full-face view ........................................... 3
3 Eye very large, eye length about one-half of head length (excluding mandibles); pronotum freely articulating with mesonotum ( Pseudomyrmecinae HNS ) ............................. ....................................................................................................... Pseudomyrmex Lund HNS
- Eye less than one-half head length; pronotum fused with mesonotum ( Myrmicinae HNS ) ... ....................................................................................................................................... 4
4 Antenna with 6 segments, including a 2-segmented club ............................................. 5
- Antenna with 10 segments, including a 2-segmented club ......... Solenopsis Westwood HNS
- Antenna with 11 segments; club variable ..................................................................... 6
- Antenna with 12 segments; club variable.. ................................................................ 14
5 Mandible elongate and linear, with an apical fork of two spiniform teeth ...................... ...................................................................................................... Strumigenys F. Smith HNS
- Mandible short and subtriangular, with a multi-denticulate masticatory margin ........... ............................................................................................................... Pyramica Roger HNS
6 Postpetiole attached to the dorsal surface of the following abdominal segment; petiole dorsoventrally flattened, not node-like in profile ........................... Crematogaster Mayr HNS
- Postpetiole attached to the anterior face of the following segment; petiole node-like in profile, not dorsoventrally flattened ............................................................................. 7
7 Head in lateral view with a diagonal carina running from above the eye down toward the mandibular insertion; promesonotum with conspicuous tubercles or spines ......... 8
- Head in lateral view lacking such a diagonal carina; promesonotum without conspicuous tubercles or spines .................................................................................................9
8 Frontal lobes expanded laterally and covering the sides of the head below the eyes, in full-face view; body lacking erect pilosity.................................... Cyphomyrmex Mayr HNS
- Frontal lobes not expanded laterally to cover the sides of the head; body with erect pilosity.............................................................................................. Acromyrmex Mayr HNS
9 Antenna with a distinct 2-segmented apical club............................... Wasmannia Forel HNS
- Antenna lacking a distinct 2-segmented apical club, either 3-segmented or indistinct.. .....................................................................................................................................10
10 Eye absent or rudimentary; propodeum unarmed, basal face rounding into declivitous face ................................................................................................ Solenopsidini HNS new genus
- Eye well developed, with multiple ommatidia; propodeum angulate or spinose.......11
11 Lateral portions of clypeus, in front of the antennal insertions, developed in the form of a raised ridge or shield-wall; frontal carinae extending almost to the posterior margin of the head......................................................................... Tetramorium Mayr HNS (part)
- Lateral portions of clypeus not developed as a raised ridge or shield-wall; frontal carinae very short or absent...............................................................................................12
12 Eye with short erect setae projecting between the ommatidia........ Formicoxenus Mayr HNS
- Eye lacking erect setae................................................................................................13
13 Median portion of clypeus with a smooth, longitudinally excavate surface, and lacking carinae .............................................................................................. Leptothorax Mayr HNS
- Median portion of clypeus with several longitudinal carinae......................................... ................................................................................................. Temnothorax Mayr HNS (part)
14 Hind tibial spur finely pectinate (as seen at 50-100x magnification).........................15
- Hind tibial spur simple or absent.................................................................................17
15 Metanotal groove absent or very weakly impressed, not breaking the dorsal profile of the mesosoma; psammophore usually present............................ Pogonomyrmex Mayr HNS
- Metanotal groove present and interrupting the dorsal profile of the mesosoma; psammophore absent...........................................................................................................16
16 Propodeum unarmed; mandible with more than 12 teeth ....................... Manica Jurine HNS
- Propodeum armed with a pair of spines; mandible with 6-10 teeth .. Myrmica Latreille HNS
17 Lateral portions of clypeus, in front of the antennal insertions, developed in the form of a raised ridge or shield-wall; apex of sting with triangular lamellate appendage...... ................................................................................................. Tetramorium Mayr HNS (part)
- Lateral portions of clypeus not developed as a raised ridge or shield-wall; apex of sting without triangular lamellate appendage .....................................................................18
18 Petiole short and sessile, lacking well differentiated anterior peduncle and dorsal node; ventrolateral margin of head with sharp, longitudinal carina extending from mandibular base to posterolateral corner of head........................................... Myrmecina Curtis HNS
- Petiole with anterior peduncle and dorsal node; ventrolateral margin of head without sharp, longitudinal carina ...........................................................................................19
19 Dorsum of head and mesosoma without standing pilosity .......... Cardiocondyla Emery HNS
- Dorsum of head and mesosoma with standing pilosity ............................................... 20
20 Anteromedian portion of clypeus notably elevated and bounded by a pair of carinae that diverge anteriorly ................................................................................................ 21
- Anteromedian portion of clypeus not abruptly elevated and lacking a pair of anteriorly diverging carinae ........................................................................................................ 23
21 Propodeum unarmed ....................................................................... Monomorium Mayr HNS
- Propodeum armed with a pair of teeth or spines ........................................................ 22
22 Antennal club 3-segmented; propodeal spiracle large and located close to the declivitous face of the propodeum, separated from latter by no more than the diameter of the spiracle .................................................................................................. Rogeria Emery HNS
- Antennal club 4-segmented; propodeal spiracle relatively small and separated from the declivitous face of the propodeum by more than the spiracle diameter .......................... ....................................................................................................... Stenamma Westwood HNS
23 Antennal club 3- (rarely 4-) segmented ....................................................................... 24
- Antenna lacking a distinct club ................................................................................... 25
24 In profile promesonotum domed and distinctly elevated above the propodeal dorsum; workers dimorphic ......................................................................... Pheidole Westwood HNS
- In profile entire mesosoma dorsum flat to weakly convex, promesonotum not domed or markedly elevated above the level of the propodeum; workers monomorphic .......... ................................................................................................. Temnothorax Mayr HNS (part)
25 Head narrow, longer than broad; mandible slender and triangular, outer margin not strongly curving towards the midline; psammophore absent ...... Aphaenogaster Mayr HNS
- Head broad, subquadrate; mandible short and thick, outer margin strongly curving towards the midline; psammophore usually present ................................. Messor Forel HNS
26 Pygidium (last visible abdominal tergite) flattened and bordered laterally with a row of peg-like teeth or spines that converge distally ( Cerapachyinae HNS ).... Cerapachys F. Smith HNS
- Pygidium (last visible abdominal tergite) convex and rounded, lacking a row of teeth or spines ..................................................................................................................... 27
27 Distinct constriction between abdominal segments 3 and 4; terga and sterna of abdominal segments 3 and 4 laterally fused ......................................................................... 28
- No constriction between abdominal segments 3 and 4; terga of abdominal segments 3 and 4 overlapping the corresponding sterna, not laterally fused with them ............... 30
28 Articulation of petiole (second abdominal segment) to third abdominal segment very broad; petiole without a distinct posterior face ( Amblyoponinae HNS ) .................................. ..................................................................................................... Amblyopone Erichson HNS
- Articulation of petiole (second abdominal segment) to third abdominal segment narrow; petiole with a distinct posterior face .................................................................. 29
29 Pronotum freely articulating with the mesonotum; abdominal tergite 4 not strongly enlarged and not curved ventrally; apex of metasoma directed posteriorly ( Ponerinae HNS ) ....................................................................................................... Hypoponera Santschi HNS
- Pronotum fused immovably to the mesonotum; abdominal tergite 4 strongly enlarged and curved ventrally; apex of metasoma directed anteriorly ( Proceratiinae HNS ).................. .......................................................................................................... Proceratium Roger HNS
30 Apex of metasoma with a circular orifice, often fringed with short setae (the acidopore) ( Formicinae HNS )...................................................................................................31
- Apex of metasoma with a slit-shaped orifice ( Dolichoderinae HNS )..................................38
31 Antenna with 9 segments ............................................................. Brachymyrmex Mayr HNS
- Antenna with 11 segments ................................................................. Plagiolepis Mayr HNS
- Antenna with 12 segments .........................................................................................32
32 Metapleural gland absent; antennal insertions well separated from the posterior clypeal margin; in profile mesosoma dorsum usually evenly convex........................ Camponotus Mayr HNS
- Metapleural gland present; antennal insertions adjacent to the posterior clypeal margin; in profile promesonotum separated from the dorsal face of the propodeum by a distinct impression .....................................................................................................33
33 Maxillary palp segments 3 and 4 greatly elongated, segment 3 (counting from base) half the head length or more; psammophore present.............. Myrmecocystus Wesmael HNS
- Maxillary palp segments 3 and 4 not greatly elongated, segment 3 much less than half the head length; psammophore absent .......................................................................34
34 Ocelli present; propodeal spiracle elliptical to oval....................................................35
- Ocelli absent or indistinct; propodeal spiracle circular to subcircular.......................36
35 Mandible triangular, with seven or more distinct teeth on the masticatory margin........ ............................................................................................................ Formica Linnaeus HNS
- Mandible falcate (sickle-shaped) and lacking distinct teeth............ Polyergus Latreille HNS
36 Dorsum of head and mesosoma with coarse setae, arranged in distinct pairs; eye situated in relatively anterior position, at or in front of midlength of side of head ............. ............................................................................................ Paratrechina Motschoulsky HNS
- Pilosity on dorsum of head and mesosoma variable, but not arranged as coarse setae in pairs; eye situated in relatively posterior position, behind midlength of side of head ... .....................................................................................................................................37
37 Mandible with six teeth; antennal scape long, surpassing posterior margin of head by more than half its length; mesonotum in dorsal view strongly constricted behind pronotum .............................................................................................................. Prenolepis Mayr HNS
- Mandible with seven or more teeth; antennal scape shorter, surpassing posterior margin of head by less than a third its length; mesonotum in dorsal view not strongly constricted behind pronotum...................................................................... Lasius Fabricius HNS
38 Propodeum with a prominent conical tooth at the junction of the dorsal and declivitous faces; maxillary palp segment 3 elongate, subequal in length to segments 4-6; apical mandibular tooth much enlarged...................................................... Dorymyrmex Mayr HNS
- Propodeum rounded or subangulate at the junction of the dorsal and declivitous faces, but without a conical tooth; maxillary palp segment 3 short, subequal in length to segments4; apical mandibular tooth not notably enlarged .............................................. 39
39 Mesosoma dorsum lacking standing pilosity .............................................................. 40
- Mesosoma dorsum with standing pilosity .................................................................. 41
40 Petiole flattened, plate-like, and without a conspicuous, dorsally protruding scale (petiole often overhung by the succeeding abdominal segment); dorsal face of propodeum much shorter than the declivitous (posterior) face ............................ Tapinoma Foerster HNS
- Petiole with a well developed, dorsally protruding scale; dorsal face of propodeum subequal in length to declivitous face .............................................. Linepithema Mayr HNS
41 In profile mesosoma dorsum without an impressed metanotal groove, the promesonotum and propodeum forming a continuous surface; workers variable in size within a colony ........................................................................................................... Liometopum Mayr HNS
- In profile mesosoma dorsum interrupted by a well marked metanotal groove; workers showing little intra-colony size variation .................................................................... 42
42 Petiole lacking an erect scale; side of mesosoma with conspicuous microreticulate sculpture; dark brown-black, with contrastingly paler tarsi .......... Technomyrmex Mayr HNS
- Petiole with well developed erect scale; side of mesosoma without conspicuous microreticulate sculpture; varying in color from yellowish-orange to dark brown, but without contrastingly paler tarsi ............................................................ Forelius Emery HNS
- Ward, P. S. (2005): A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 936, 1-68: 20-25, URL:http://antbase.org/ants/publications/21008/21008.pdf
License | Public Domain |
Rights holder/Author | No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation. |
Source | http://treatment.plazi.org/id/210D580338158C5F0DFB75E6A02945DE |
Formicidae preys on:
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Collembola
Auchenorrhyncha
Sternorrhyncha
fungi
fruit
seeds
dead leaves
detritus
Acari
fruit and seeds
nectar and floral
Zenaida asiatica
Vanessa cardui
Misumena vatia
Based on studies in:
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
- Waide RB, Reagan WB (eds) (1996) The food web of a tropical rainforest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed February 16, 2011 at http://animaldiversity.org. http://www.animaldiversity.org
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Rights holder/Author | Cynthia Sims Parr, Joel Sachs, SPIRE |
Source | http://spire.umbc.edu/fwc/ |
Ants are important predators of insects, including flies, caterpillars, and other pests.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Formicidae/ |
Formicidae and Myrmicidae (Ants)
Ants are small to medium-sized insects that usually live in the ground, within cavities of trees, or rotting wood of buildings. They are various shades of black, brown, or red. Ants are highly social insects, consisting primarily of sterile workers without wings. Ants tend to be omnivorous scavengers, although some species cut leaves for their underground fungus farms, while others tend aphids for their honeydew. Ants sometimes visit flowering plants for nectar, particularly those with extra-floral nectaries, such as Trumpet Creeper, Wild Senna, and Partridge Pea. Species observed on such wildflowers include Acrobatic ants, Mound ants, and Carpenter ants.
- Hilty, J. Editor. 2014. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. illinoiswildflowers.info, version (07/2014)
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations
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Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects/files/wasps.htm |
Ants can see, but not very well. They mainly communicate with scent and touch. They have complicated chemical signals that allow them to work together on different tasks. They often spread information by touching each other's antennae or head. Some ants also make noises by rubbing their legs against their body.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Formicidae/ |
Ants (Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Formicidae) are highly social insects and are often associated in one way or another with plants. Ants sometimes form mutualistic relationships with plants, which may benefit from ant predation on plant herbivores or seed dispersal by ants. However, there are relatively few examples of pollination by ants.
In some cases, ants actually appear to interfere with pollination, sometimes reducing plant reproductive output: they may consume nectar without providing the plant with any reproductive benefit; they are aggressive toward other insects, including pollinators; they can destroy floral tissue; and their secretions may reduce pollen viability. Some plants appear to have evolved means of minimizing ant visitation to their flowers. In one example of ant interference with pollination, the ant, Crematogaster scutellaris, is a major predator of the fig wasp, which forms an obligate pollination mutualism with the Mediterranean fig tree (Genus: Ficus L.)
- Complex interactions on fig trees: ants capturing parasitic wasps as possible indirect mutualists of the fig - fig wasp interaction, B. Schatz, M. Proffit, B. V. Rakhi, R. M. Borges, and M. Hossaert-McKey, In OIKOS, Volume 113, pages 344-352, 2006
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Rights holder/Author | Bob Corrigan, Bob Corrigan |
Source | http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/ants/855 |
The Formicidae are the ants, social insects. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than 12,500 out of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been described. They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and a distinctive node-like structure that forms a slender waist. Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies which may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. These larger colonies consist mostly of sterile wingless females forming castes of workers, soldiers, or other specialised types. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called drones and one or more fertile females called queens. Ants have colonised almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in most ecosystems, and may form 15â25% of the terrestrial animal biomass. Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organisation and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships. Ant societies have division of labour, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents. Ants come into conflict with humans, as they can damage crops and invade buildings. Some species, such as the red imported fire ant, are regarded as invasive species, aggressively establishing themselves in areas where they are accidentally introduced.
Ants have complete metamorphosis. Queen ants lay eggs. The baby ant that hatches from the egg is a larva, with no legs, just a soft white body like a worm and a small head. The larvae are fed by the queen (in the first generation) and then by workers. The amount and kind of food an ant larva gets helps determine how big it will be as an adult, and whether it will be a worker or a queen. Each larva grows and molts, and eventually spins a small cocoon of silk, and inside the cocoon it transforms into a pupa. The pupa is a resting stage, it doesn't move or eat, but just completes the transformation into an adult ant. The new adult emerges from cocoon to join start working for the nest.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Formicidae/ |