Anoplolepis

Anoplolepis
Anoplolepis gracilipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Plagiolepidini
Genus:	Anoplolepis Santschi, 1914
Type species
Formica longipes
Diversity
14 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Anoplolepis gracilipes Specimen Label
Synonyms
Zealleyella Arnold, 1922

Evolutionary Relationships

Formicinae Myrmelachistini   (2 genera) Lasiini   (10 genera) Melophorini   (9 genera) Formicini   (8 genera) Gesomyrmex, Oecophylla Plagiolepidini Anoplolepis   (14 species) Tapinolepis   (18 species) Aphomomyrmex   (1 species) Petalomyrmex   (1 species) Lepisiota   (136 species) Acropyga   (41 species) Agraulomyrmex   (2 species) Gigantiops, Myrmoteras, Santschiella Camponotini   (8 genera)

Based on Ward et al. 2016.

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - Anoplolepis is a relatively small genus with only nine valid species (Bolton, 2012). Predominantly Afrotropical, with fewer species in the Malagasy and Oriental regions and some introduced in other regions. There is no modern revision available for this genus on an Afrotropical basis, although Prins (1982) presented a taxonomic treatment for the South African species. Unfortunately, he only provided a key to the queen and male castes. These formicines are epigaeic and active ants that forage on the ground or the vegetation. Their diet is comparatively variable since they feed on a variety of small arthropods but also on honeydew produced by aphids or coccids (Prins, 1982).

Identification

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

• Key to Australian Genera of Formicinae

 

Afrotropical species

A list of all the Afrotropical species with images Afrotropical species with images is available

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

Species Uncertain

An unspecified species within this genus is a host for the eucharitid wasp Athairocharis vannoorti (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Anoplolepis	host	eucharitid wasp	Athairocharis vannoorti	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Anoplolepis gracilipes	mutualist	butterfly	Lampides boeticus			Obregon et al. 2015

Morphology

Worker Morphology

 • Antennal segment count 11 • Antennal club gradual • Total dental count 6-9(0-2) • Spur formula 1 simple, 1 simple • Eyes present • Scrobes absent • Caste most monomorphic, several species polymorphic • Sting absent

Karyotype

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Anoplolepis gracilipes	17	34		India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Sarawak	Goni et al., 1982; Tjan et al., 1986; Imai et al., 1983; Imai et al., 1984; Imai et al., 1985	as ''Anoplolepis longipes''

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.

• ANOPLOLEPIS [Formicinae: Lasiini]
  • Anoplolepis Santschi, 1914b: 123 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Formica longipes (junior primary homonym in Formica, Formica gracilipes first available replacement name), by monotypy: Bolton, 1995b: 20.
  • Anoplolepis raised to genus: Emery, 1925b: 16.
  • Anoplolepis senior synonym of Zealleyella: Bolton, 2003: 96, 267.
• ZEALLEYELLA [junior synonym of Anoplolepis]
  • Zealleyella Arnold, 1922: 579 (diagnosis in key) [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Formica custodiens, by subsequent designation of Santschi, 1926a: 14.
  • Zealleyella subgenus of Anoplolepis: Santschi, 1926a: 14.
  • Zealleyella junior synonym of Anoplolepis: Bolton, 2003: 96, 267.

References

• Agosti, D. 1991. Revision of the oriental ant genus Cladomyrma, with an outline of the higher classification of the Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 293-310 PDF (page 295, 296, Anoplolepis in Formicinae [part in Oecophylla genus group, part in Pseudolasius genus group])
• Arnold, G. 1922. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part V. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 579-674 (page 593, Anoplolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini; Anoplolepis as subgenus of Plagiolepis)
• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 20, Formica gracilipes first available replacement name), by monotypy)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 96, 267, Anoplolepis as Lasiini; Anoplolepis senior synonym of Zealleyella)
• Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 16, Anoplolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini; Anoplolepis as genus)
• Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 249, Anoplolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini; Anoplolepis as subgenus of Plagiolepis)
• Prins, A. J. 1982. Review of Anoplolepis with reference to male genitalia, and notes on Acropyga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 89: 215-247 (page 215, Partial revision of genus)
• Santschi, F. 1914b. Voyage de Ch. Alluaud et R. Jeannel en Afrique Orientale, 1911-1912. Résultats scientifiques. Insectes Hyménoptères. II. Formicidae. Paris: Libr. A. Schulz, pp. 41-148. (page 123, Anoplolepis as subgenus of Plagiolepis)
• Santschi, F. 1926a. Trois notes myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 95: 13-28 (page 13, Anoplolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini; Anoplolepis as genus)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1922i. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VII. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 631-710 (page 696, Anoplolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)