Crematogaster

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Crematogaster
Temporal range: 48.6–0 Ma Eocene – Recent
Crematogaster scutellaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Alliance: Crematogaster genus group
Genus: Crematogaster
Lund, 1831
Type species
Formica scutellaris, now Crematogaster scutellaris
Subgenera
Diversity
784 species
0 fossil species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Crematogaster scutellaris casent0173120 profile 1.jpg

Crematogaster scutellaris

Crematogaster scutellaris casent0173120 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Blaimer (2010) - Crematogaster ants are widespread, but reach their highest diversity and abundance in tropical and subtropical regions. These ants are generally found in forest, woodland and shrubby habitats, where they form a conspicuous and often dominant element of the fauna. Most tropical Crematogaster species nest arboreally, but some tropical and many temperate zone species nest in the ground (e.g. Hosoishi et al., 2010). Worker ants of this genus are easily recognized by a few unique morphological features, including the dorsal attachment of the postpetiole to the 4th abdominal segment and the absence of a dorsal petiolar node, which give the ants the ability of flexing the gaster forwards over the mesosoma while the petiole is pressed tightly against the propodeum (Buren, 1959). This is an aggressive response to every invader, enabling the ants to use their remarkable spatulate sting for the topical application of their venom – which apparently is efficient in repelling, if not killing other ant opponents (Marlier et al., 2004).


Photo Gallery

  • Arboreal group foraging on low vegetation, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Twig nest with workers, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
  • Twig nest with queen, worker and larva, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
  • Crematogaster tending to their Psyllid trophobionts. South Australia. Photo by Mark Newton.
  • A Crematogaster worker with native bee prey found on the trunk of a Eucalyptus wandoo tree from Brookton, Western Australia. It is unknown if the bee was caught alive or if the carcass was scavenged while foraging. This species prefers to forage on smooth-barked eucalypts. Photo by Farhan Bokhari.
  • A worker from Dominican amber.
  • Crematogaster alate queen, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Photo by Yathumon M A.

Identification

Blaimer (2010) - Worker ants of this genus are easily recognized by a few unique morphological features, including the dorsal attachment of the postpetiole to the 4th abdominal segment and the absence of a dorsal petiolar node, which give the ants the ability of flexing the gaster forwards over the mesosoma while the petiole is pressed tightly against the propodeum (Buren, 1959). The two subgenera pages list species groups and links to keys for some Crematogaster species.

Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - Worker monomorphic, but sometimes varying widely in size; head round, subrectangular or subtrapezoidal; frontal carina and antennal scrobe absent; median portion of clypeus roundly expanded anteriad, partly overhanging basal part of mandibles when fully closed; posteromedian portion very broadly inserted between frontal lobes; no isolated, median seta on anterior clypeal margin; mandible narrow; masticatory margin oblique, with 4 teeth; antennae 11-segmented, with a 2-, 3-, or 4-segmented club, or gradually incrassate; eye medium sized or rarely consisting of a few ommatidia; promesonotum more or less raised; promesonotal suture absent or weakly present dorsally; metanotal groove usually distinctly impressed, sometimes margined laterally by a longitudinal carina or lamella; propodeal spine usually (but not always) present, varying in size and shape; propodeal spiracle located well posteriorly on posterolateral margin of propodeum, just below base of propodeal spine; petiole depressed dorsoventrally, without node; postpetiole with rounded node which often bears median longitudinal impression, attached to dorsal surface of gaster; gaster in dorsal view triangular or cordate; sting spatulate.

Crematogaster is easily distinguished from all other myrmicine genera known from Vietnam by the morphology of the waist and gaster. The worker of species belonging to the subgenus Orthocrema of Crematogaster is a little similar to that of Recurvidris, but in the latter the propodeal spines are weakly to strongly recurved, the propodeal spiracle is located far in front of the base of the propodeal spine, the postpetiole, in dorsal view, is broadly attached to the first gastral segment, and the first gastral segment behind the postpetiole is extremely dorsoventrally compressed in lateral view. Antennal club is 2-segmented in Orthocrema, but 3-segmented in Recurvidris.


It can be difficult to make definitive determinations with Crematogaster specimens. In many areas of the world species diversity is high but is poorly characterized.

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Keys including this Genus

Keys to Subgenera or Species Groups in this Genus

Keys to Species in this Genus

Species Groups

See the Crematogaster subgenus and Orthocrema subgenus pages for information about their respective species groups.

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 316 33 138 37 35 131 92 106
Total Species 2841 1736 3045 932 835 4379 1741 2862

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Kishenehn Formation shale, Montana, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Rovno amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Sicilian amber, Italy (Late/Upper Miocene), Zhangpu amber, Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, China (Miocene) (an unidentified species, Wang et al., 2021).

Three Crematogaster fossil species have been described: Crematogaster praecursor, based on a male from the Sicilian amber (Early Oligocene, Rupelian, ca. 27.8–33.9 Ma, Crematogaster aurora, based on the imprints of two queens from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation (USA) (ca. 46 Ma) and Crematogaster primitiva, a male from the Ukrainian Rovno amber (Late Eocene, Priabonian stage, 33.9–37.8 Ma).

Biology

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - Despite its cosmopolitan distribution, most species are found in the tropics. The extreme species richness together with the high intraspecific and geographical variability provides serious obstacles for the taxonomic understanding of this genus. Thus, it is not surprising that revisionary treatments are very scarce and have been thoroughly avoided in the past. Some regional faunas have been revised at the genus or subgenus level (Buren, 1959; Longino, 2003; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2008, 2009; Blaimer, 2010, 2011). In the tropics, most members of this genus are arboreal (Longino, 2003), although a minority of species nest and forage on the ground (Quinet et al., 2009; Hosoishi et al., 2010). Crematogaster can be found in a diversity of habitats, such as forests, woodlands, savannahs or shrublands (Blaimer, 2010) and they often play a dominant, aggressive and territorial role within the local ant fauna (Longino, 2003). Most Crematogaster seem to be highly generalistic and omnivorous (Longino, 2003), although the most important resource for many species is homopteran honeydew.

Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - Many species are arboreal foragers, and nest in decayed parts of standing trees and hollows of tree trunks and branches or build carton nests. Some species nest in soil or rotting logs on the ground. Species of the subgenus Orthocrema forage both on and under the ground.

Longino (2003), provides the following regarding the biology of Costa Rican Crematogaster. Many of the generalities made here extend across the neotropics: Crematogaster are often common ants, and they play a major ecological role in Neotropical forests. Colonies may be large, blanketing forest canopies, or small, contained within a single dead twig. Large colonies are usually polydomous, with multiple nests. Most species nest in dead wood, from narrow gauge hollow stems to large dead branches or trunks. One species, Crematogaster stollii, nests in live stems. Although major Crematogaster lineages in the Asian and African tropics are specialized plant ants, and at least one or two species are plant ants in the Amazonian region, none are known to be specialized plant ants in Costa Rica. Crematogaster bryophilia often nests under epiphyte mats. Although many species can make carton from masticated plant fibers, most use relatively small amounts to form partitions inside the nest or to restrict the opening of a nest in dead wood. Several Costa Rican species use carton more extensively. Crematogaster stollii makes carton galleries on tree trunks and branches, connecting their nests in the live branch tips. These carton galleries are indistinguishable from those of Azteca forelii, an ant species with similar nesting behavior, and both are very similar to the galleries of the arboreal termites that are so common in lowland forests. Crematogaster montezumia and Crematogaster arcuata make external carton nests that encircle small stems. These nests are plain carton, and lack epiphytes. In contrast, two Costa Rican species make carton nests that sprout epiphytes, forming ant gardens. Crematogaster longispina makes loose ant gardens on tree trunks (Kleinfeldt 1978), and Crematogaster jardinero lives in the high canopy, forming “archipelago” clusters of discrete ant gardens.

Although most species are arboreal, a few nest in the leaf litter. Species that nest in the leaf litter are usually yellow, nocturnal, and rarely encountered. One leaf litter species, Crematogaster sotobosque, is brown, forages diurnally on low vegetation, and is moderately abundant in lowland wet forest.

Most species are monogynous; a few are polygynous.

Ergatogynes or intercastes have been reported for Crematogaster minutissima (Holliday 1903), C. minutissima smithi, and a species tentatively identified as Crematogaster curvispinosa (Heinze et al. 1998, Heinze et al. 1999). The Heinze et al. studies of smithi revealed that these intercastes, morphologically intermediate between workers and queens, function mainly to provide trophic eggs for the colony. They never perform foraging, maintenance, or defensive duties. They mainly lay eggs, most of which are eaten by larvae. They lack a spermatheca and cannot be inseminated, but their eggs are viable and produce males if left to develop. In Crematogaster pygmaea and Crematogaster biroi, Peeters et al. (2013) showed that this is a specialized caste with a trophic function. Among the Costa Rican fauna, intermediates are known to occur in C. bryophilia, C. curvispinosa, and Crematogaster nigropilosa. Nests are often found with only intermediates, workers, and brood. It is unknown whether these are colony fragments with queenright nests elsewhere.

Longino 2003. Figure 1.

Two categories of queens occur among the Costa Rica fauna. In one group the propodeum is tall and narrow and drops very steeply from the scutellum (Fig. 1A), and sculpture and pilosity characters are similar to workers. I refer to these as “normal” queens. These species appear to have typical colony founding behavior, with standard nuptial flights and claustral colony founding by individual queens, and they are the most abundant species in communities. In another group the propodeum has a shallower slope and extends well beyond the scutellum (Fig. 1B), and sculpture and pilosity characters often differ greatly from workers. In particular, queens are often highly polished and shiny. Queens in this group also show varying degrees of development of falcate mandibles. Costa Rican species having these distinctive queens are Crematogaster acuta, Crematogaster arcuata, Crematogaster distans, Crematogaster evallans, jardinero, montezumia, and Crematogaster raptor. I refer to these as the “acuta-group.” These are all very low density species, and very little is known of their colony founding behavior. The morphology is similar to other ant lineages that are known to be temporary social parasites (Forel 1928, Hölldobler and Wilson 1990). Queens of temporary social parasites insinuate themselves into nests of other species, killing or incapacitating the host queen, and use the heterospecific worker force to establish their own colony. Two anecdotal observations are consistent with temporary social parasitism as a colony founding mechanism in the acuta-group. I observed a mixed nest in which a queen of C. montezumia occurred in a small nest with workers of C. curvispinosa, and Adrienne Nicotra, a student working at La Selva Biological Station, observed a queen of C. raptor in a small queenright nest of Crematogaster carinata. These are the only such observations so far, and the colony founding behavior of acuta-group species is in need of investigation.

Most species of Crematogaster, especially those with large polydomous colonies, are aggressive and territorial. Crematogaster carinata is exceptional in having large polydomous and polygynous colonies that overlap with many other ant species. Workers are not aggressive and may even share the same nest structures with other species. Forel (1898) observed C. carinata (as C. limata parabiotica) and Dolichoderus debilis inhabiting the same nest in Colombia, and coined the term parabiosis to describe the phenomenon of mutual nest sharing. In Costa Rica, C. carinata can be found coinhabiting ant gardens with Odontomachus panamensis and sharing nest space with D. debilis or Dolichoderus inermis. The nesting behavior and taxonomic uncertainties in the complex are further discussed under the C. carinata species account. Crematogaster limata may also exhibit an ability to overlap non-aggressively with other species because it has been observed in close association with the large tropical ponerine ant Ectatomma tuberculatum (Wheeler 1986).

Crematogaster appear to be very generalized and omnivorous foragers. Individual scouts search for resources and recruit nestmates when resources are encountered. They rapidly recruit to baits of sugar or protein (e.g., tuna, dead insects). Although rarely predators of active prey, I have often seen them attacking pupae or otherwise immobilized live prey. They readily tend Homoptera, and species vary in the degree of reliance on Homoptera. Crematogaster stollii appears to rely entirely on Homoptera and perhaps cryptic plant resources. Workers are found only inside of live stems or under their carton galleries and they never forage on the surface. Their chambers in live stems are packed with Coccoidea that are feeding from the inside of the stems. This phenomenon, in which ants live and feed entirely within live plant stems, with no external patrolling by the ants and no obvious myrmecophytic adaptations on the plant's part, has evolved convergently in several ant lineages, including species of Azteca and Myrmelachista.

In Costa Rica, Crematogaster are abundant in all lowland habitats. In mangroves, Crematogaster crinosa is often a dominant species. In lowland dry or wet forest sites, a community of over 15 species may occur. These are concentrated in second growth vegetation, forest edges, and forest canopy. Relatively few species are found in wet forest understory and forest floor litter. At higher elevations the dominant Crematogaster drop out by about 500 to 1000m, depending on the openness of the habitat. A few species, such as C. bryophilia, Crematogaster moelleri, and Crematogaster sumichrasti, are montane forest specialists that are more common at mid elevations than at sea level.

Use of the Sting

The unique structure of the waist in Crematogaster species is believed to be closely connected with defense and hunting behaviors. The sting in Crematogaster species is well developed, but with a blunt, spatulate tip that is unsuitable for pricking (Buren 1959, Kugler 1978), and the venom is applied topically by wiping on a victim instead of injecting it inside the body (Buren 1959, Longino 1993). By holding its gaster raised up and even somewhat forward, over its head, a worker can attack prey or enemies in a 360° radius (Radchenko & Dlussky, 2019).

Ant Gardens

Six unidentified species of Crematogaster from peninsular Malaysia are known to form ant-gardens (i.e., they are able to initiate ant gardens or are restricted to ant gardens) (Kaufmann at al., 2001; Kaufmann, 2002 (noted as ant-garden initiator); Kaufmann & Maschwitz, 2006; Orivel & Leroy, 2011).

Association with Other Organisms

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Unknown species of Camponotus are involved in the following associations:

Associate Type Associate Taxon Relationship Locality Source Notes
Ephydrid fly Rhynchopsilopa nitidissima Parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Ephydrid fly Rhyncopsilopa laevigata Parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Phorid fly Epactoselia provallaris Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Phorid fly Pseudacteon onyx Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Phorid fly Trucidophora feldhaarae Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Syrphid fly Paramixogaster crematogastri Predator Quevillon, 2018
Syrphid fly Stipomorpha sp. Predator Quevillon, 2018
Aphelinid wasp Coccophagus chaetosus Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Aphelinid wasp Coccophagus saltator Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Aphelinid wasp Coccophagus tetrastichoides Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Encyrtid wasp Aenasius tachigaliae Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Encyrtid wasp Astymachus phainae Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ingae Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ludmilae Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Encyrtid wasp Metaphycus monastyrskii Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Encyrtid wasp Aenasius tachigaliae Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Encyrtid wasp Astymachus phainae Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ingae Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ludmilae Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Encyrtid wasp Metaphycus monastyrskii Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Associate
Eulophid wasp Myrmokata diparoides Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Eulophid wasp Myrmokata sp. Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Eulophid wasp Myrmokata sp. Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Primary host
Eulophid wasp Myrmokata diparoides Parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database Primary host
Nematode Diploscapter sp. Parasite Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Nematode Sclerorhabditis sp. Parasite Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Cricket Myrmecophilus arboreus Myrmecophile New Guinea
Cricket Myrmecophilus nebrascensis Myrmecophile United States
Strepsipteran Apocephalus cultellatus Parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Strepsipteran Stichotrema angolensis and Stichotrema barrosmachadoi Parasite Cook, 2019
Fungus Corydceps amoene-roseus Associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Fungus Beauveria bassiana Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Fungus Ophiocordyceps sp. Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Fungus Stilbella sp. Parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest

The following milichiid flies will solicit regurgitated food from unknown species of Crematogaster: Milichia dectes, Milichia proectes, Milichia prosaetes and Milichia farquharsoni (Farquharson 1919, 1922; Wild & Brake, 2009).

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) encyrtid wasp Aenasius tachigaliae associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) encyrtid wasp Astymachus phainae associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ingae associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ludmilae associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) encyrtid wasp Metaphycus monastyrskii associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster associate (details unknown) fungus Corydceps amoene-roseus associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster host aphelinid wasp Coccophagus chaetosus parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host aphelinid wasp Coccophagus saltator parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host aphelinid wasp Coccophagus tetrastichoides parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host cricket Myrmecophilus arboreus myrmecophile New Guinea
Crematogaster host cricket Myrmecophilus nebrascensis myrmecophile United States
Crematogaster host encyrtid wasp Aenasius tachigaliae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host encyrtid wasp Astymachus phainae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ingae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ludmilae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host encyrtid wasp Metaphycus monastyrskii parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster host ephydrid fly Rhynchopsilopa nitidissima parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host ephydrid fly Rhyncopsilopa laevigata parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host eulophid wasp Myrmokata diparoides parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database primary host
Crematogaster host eulophid wasp Myrmokata diparoides parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host eulophid wasp Myrmokata sp. parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database primary host
Crematogaster host eulophid wasp Myrmokata sp. parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host fungus Beauveria bassiana parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission within nest
Crematogaster host fungus Ophiocordyceps sp. parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host fungus Stilbella sp. parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host milichiid fly Milichia dectes myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster host milichiid fly Milichia farquharsoni myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster host milichiid fly Milichia proectes myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster host milichiid fly Milichia prosaetes myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster host nematode Diploscapter sp. parasite Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host nematode Sclerorhabditis sp. parasite Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host phorid fly Epactoselia provallaris parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host phorid fly Pseudacteon onyx parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host phorid fly Trucidophora feldhaarae parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host strepsipteran Apocephalus cultellatus parasite Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster host strepsipteran Stichotrema angolensis parasite Cook, 2019
Crematogaster host strepsipteran Stichotrema barrosmachadoi parasite Cook, 2019
Crematogaster prey syrphid fly Paramixogaster crematogastri predator Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster prey syrphid fly Stipomorpha sp. predator Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster acuta host eulophid wasp Horismenus sp. parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster ampla xenobiont ant Cephalotes specularis xenobiont Brazil Brandao et al., 2014; Powell et al., 2014
Crematogaster antaris mutualist aphid Aphis craccivora trophobiont Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster antaris mutualist aphid Aphis farinosa trophobiont Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster antaris mutualist aphid Aphis frangulae trophobiont Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster antaris mutualist aphid Chaitophorus truncates trophobiont Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster antaris mutualist aphid Myzus persicae trophobiont Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster auberti host fungus Myrmicinosporidium durum pathogen Portugal Gonçalves et al., 2012
Crematogaster auberti mutualist aphid Thelaxes suberis trophobiont Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster auberti mutualist butterfly Glaucopsyche alexis Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster auberti mutualist butterfly Lampides boeticus Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster auberti mutualist butterfly Pseudophilotes abencerragus Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster auberti mutualist butterfly Tomares ballus Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster bequaerti associate (details unknown) fungus Pseudogibellula formicarum associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster bequaerti associate (details unknown) fungus Sporothrix insectorum associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster bequaerti host fungus Akanthomyces gracilis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster bequaerti host fungus Ophiocordyceps myrmicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster bequaerti host fungus Stilbella buquetti var. formicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster buchneri host milichiid fly Milichia dectes myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster carinata host phorid fly Pseudacteon sp. parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Dolichoderus bispinosus host
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Dolichoderus debilis host
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Dolichoderus inermis host
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Odontomachus panamensis host
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Solenopsis picea host
Crematogaster carinata xenobiont ant Temnothorax subditivus host
Crematogaster clariventris associate (details unknown) fungus Pseudogibellula formicarum associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster clariventris host fungus Akanthomyces gracilis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster clariventris host fungus Ophiocordyceps myrmicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster clariventris host fungus Stilbella buquetti var. formicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster crinosa host eulophid wasp Melittobia australica parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database primary host
Crematogaster crinosa host eulophid wasp Melittobia australica parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster crinosa prey syrphid fly Stipomorpha wheeleri predator Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster curvispinosa host encyrtid wasp Aenasius tachigaliae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster depressa host eulophid wasp Pediobius acraconae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster difformis host milichiid fly Milichia myrmecophila myrmecophile Jacobson, 1910; de Meijere, 1910; Wild & Brake, 2009; Milichiidae online observed licking the anal secretions of ants
Crematogaster difformis host milichiid fly Milichia savannaticola myrmecophile Deeming, 1981; Milichiidae online
Crematogaster dohrni host aphelinid wasp Coccophagus saltator parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster dohrni host encyrtid wasp Encyrtus ingae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster gabonensis host fungus Ophiocordyceps myrmicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Acyrthosiphon gossypii trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Aphis craccivora trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Aphis gossypii trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Aphis pseudocardui trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Brachycaudus tragopogonis trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Callaphis juglandis trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster inermis mutualist aphid Chaitophorus israeliticus trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster laeviuscula host strepsipteran Caenocholax fenyesi parasite Cook, 2019
Crematogaster laeviuscula mutualist aphid Cinara ponderosae trophobiont Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster limata inquiline ptinid beetle Gnostus Wheeler, 1986
Crematogaster limata predator syrphid fly Pseudomicrodon biluminiferus Schmid, Morales et al., 2014
Crematogaster lineolata host cestode Raillietina tetragona parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode secondary; indirect transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster lineolata host cricket Myrmecophilus pergandei myrmecophile United States
Crematogaster lineolata host phorid fly Pseudacteon onyx parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Aphis coreopsidis trophobiont Favret et al., 2010; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Aphis fabae trophobiont Favret et al., 2010; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Aphis gossypii trophobiont Favret et al., 2010; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Capitophorus elaeagni trophobiont Favret et al., 2010; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Chaitophorus viminicola trophobiont Favret et al., 2010; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Cinara edulis trophobiont Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Cinara murrayanae trophobiont Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Cinara schwarzii trophobiont Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster lineolata mutualist aphid Lachnus ater trophobiont Jones, 1927; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster luctans host encyrtid wasp Anagyrus lopezi parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster osakensis host beetle Drusilla sparsa myrmecophile Ikeshita et al., 2017
Crematogaster osakensis host beetle Triartiger reductus myrmecophile Komatsu & Maruyama, 2008
Crematogaster schmidti mutualist aphid Aphis craccivora trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster schmidti mutualist aphid Aphis pseudocardui trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster schmidti mutualist aphid Chaitophorus israeliticus trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster schmidti mutualist aphid Thelaxes californica trophobiont Akyildirim et al., 2014; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster scutellaris host agaonid wasp Blastophaga psenes parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster scutellaris host cricket Myrmecophilus fuscus myrmecophile Mediterranean region Stalling & Cassar, 2020; Stalling et al., 2021
Crematogaster scutellaris host phorid fly Menozziola schmitzi parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster scutellaris host pteromalid wasp Philotrypesis caricae parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate
Crematogaster scutellaris mutualist aphid Aphis fabae trophobiont Akyürek et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster scutellaris mutualist aphid Aphis pomi trophobiont Akyürek et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster scutellaris mutualist aphid Aphis spiraecola trophobiont Akyürek et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster scutellaris mutualist aphid Chaitophorus melanosiphon trophobiont Akyürek et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster scutellaris mutualist aphid Pterocomma rufipes trophobiont Akyürek et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster sordidula mutualist aphid Brachycaudus cardui trophobiont Özdemir et al., 2008; Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster sordidula mutualist aphid Thelaxes suberis trophobiont Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster sordidula mutualist butterfly Lampides boeticus Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster sordidula mutualist butterfly Leptotes pirithous Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster sordidula mutualist butterfly Tomares ballus Obregon et al. 2015
Crematogaster stollii host milichiid fly Microsimus luteus myrmecophile Aldrich, 1926; Milichiidae online
Crematogaster striatula associate (details unknown) fungus Corydceps amoene-roseus associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster striatula associate (details unknown) fungus Pseudogibellula formicarum associate (details unknown) Quevillon, 2018
Crematogaster striatula host fungus Akanthomyces gracilis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster striatula host fungus Ophiocordyceps myrmicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster striatula host fungus Stilbella buquetti var. formicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Crematogaster striatula mutualist psyllid Diaphorina enderleini trophobiont Cameroon, Ethiopia Aléné et al., 2011
Crematogaster subdentata mutualist aphid Aphis craccivora trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster subdentata mutualist aphid Cinara pini trophobiont Latibari et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster subdentata mutualist aphid Periphyllus bulgaricus trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster subdentata mutualist aphid Tuberculatus maximus trophobiont Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Crematogaster tricolor host milichiid fly Milichia patrizii myrmecophile Wild & Brake, 2009
Crematogaster warburgi mutualist aphid Chaitophorus sp. trophobiont Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon Month Source Notes
Crematogaster ashmeadi Aug • Sep antkeeping.info
Crematogaster cerasi Aug • Sep • Oct antkeeping.info
Crematogaster depilis Jun antkeeping.info
Crematogaster lineolata Oct antkeeping.info
Crematogaster matsumurai Jul • Aug • Sep Japan
Crematogaster mutans Apr antkeeping.info
Crematogaster osakensis Sep Japan
Crematogaster scutellaris Aug • Sep • Oct antkeeping.info
Crematogaster stollii Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct Kaspari et al., 2001

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 39-28982 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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 • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: dentiform; present • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: polymorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

  • Crematogaster sp.(ANIC-1): n = 12, 2n = 24 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977).
  • Crematogaster sp.(ANIC-2): 2n = 26 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977) (2n=39 was also observed in one worker).
  • Crematogaster sp.1: 2n = 24 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985).
  • Crematogaster sp.1: 2n = 26 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983).
  • Crematogaster sp.2: 2n = 56 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985) (2n=58 also observed due B-chromosome polymorphism).
  • Crematogaster sp.2: 2n = 36 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982).
  • Crematogaster sp.3: 2n = 36 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982).
  • Crematogaster sp.4: 2n = 24 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983).
  • Crematogaster sp.5: 2n = 26 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Crematogaster sp.6: 2n = 26 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Crematogaster: 2n = 40 (Japan) (Imai, 1969).
  • Crematogaster: 2n = 26 (Sarawak) (Tjan et al., 1986).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Crematogaster 24 Indonesia Imai et al., 1985
Crematogaster 24 Malaysia Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983
Crematogaster 26 Australia Imai et al., 1977 2n=39 was ''also observed in one worker
Crematogaster 26 Malaysia Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983
Crematogaster 26 Malaysia Imai et al., 1983
Crematogaster 26 Sarawak Tjan et al., 1986
Crematogaster 36 Malaysia Goni et al., 1982
Crematogaster 40 Japan Imai, 1969
Crematogaster 56 Indonesia Imai et al., 1985 2n=58 also observed due B-chromosome polymorphism
Crematogaster 12 24 Australia Imai et al., 1977
Crematogaster biroi 24 24M India Imai et al., 1984
Crematogaster brunnea 36 32M+4A India Imai et al., 1984
Crematogaster nawai 26 Japan Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969 as ''Crematogaster laboriosa''
Crematogaster rothneyi 50 4M+46A India Imai et al., 1984
Crematogaster subnuda 18 36 (31-36)M+(0-5)A India Imai et al., 1984 Karyotype formula as state by the authors

Phylogeny

Myrmicinae
Myrmicini
⊟
Pogonomyrmecini
⊟
Stenammini
⊟
Solenopsidini
⊟
Attini
⊟

Ochetomyrmex  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Tranopelta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Diaphoromyrma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lachnomyrmex  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Blepharidatta  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Allomerus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Wasmannia  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Pheidole  (1,294 species, 7 fossil species)

Cephalotes  (123 species, 16 fossil species)

Procryptocerus  (44 species, 0 fossil species)

Strumigenys  (880 species, 4 fossil species)

Phalacromyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Pilotrochus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Protalaridris  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Rhopalothrix  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Basiceros  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Octostruma  (35 species, 0 fossil species)

Eurhopalothrix  (55 species, 0 fossil species)

Talaridris  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthognathus  (7 species, 1 fossil species)

Daceton  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Lenomyrmex  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Microdaceton  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Orectognathus  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Colobostruma  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Epopostruma  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

Mesostruma  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Paleoattina

Apterostigma  (44 species, 2 fossil species)

Mycocepurus  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmicocrypta  (31 species, 0 fossil species)

Neoattina

Cyatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Kalathomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetarotes  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetosoritis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex  (23 species, 2 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex

Paramycetophylax  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetophylax  (21 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetagroicus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetomoellerius  (31 species, 1 fossil species)

Sericomyrmex  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Xerolitor  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Paratrachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Trachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Amoimyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Atta  (20 species, 1 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex  (56 species, 0 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex

Pseudoatta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogastrini
⊟

Rostromyrmex  (1 species, 6 fossil species)

Cardiocondyla  (90 species, 0 fossil species)

Ocymyrmex  (34 species, 0 fossil species)

Nesomyrmex  (84 species, 2 fossil species)

Xenomyrmex  (5 species, 0 fossil species)

Terataner  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Atopomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Cataulacus  (65 species, 3 fossil species)

Carebara  (251 species, 9 fossil species)

Diplomorium  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Melissotarsus  (4 species, 1 fossil species)

Rhopalomastix  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Calyptomyrmex  (38 species, 0 fossil species)

Strongylognathus  (27 species, 0 fossil species), Tetramorium  (602 species, 2 fossil species)

Cyphoidris  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Dicroaspis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Aretidris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Vollenhovia  (83 species, 3 fossil species)

Dacetinops  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Indomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogaster  (784 species, 0 fossil species)

Meranoplus  (93 species, 0 fossil species)

Lophomyrmex  (13 species, 0 fossil species)

Adlerzia  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Recurvidris  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Stereomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Trichomyrmex  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Eutetramorium  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Royidris  (15 species, 0 fossil species)

Malagidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Vitsika  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Huberia  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Podomyrma  (62 species, 1 fossil species)

Liomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Metapone  (31 species, 0 fossil species)

Kartidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Mayriella  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Tetheamyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Dacatria  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Proatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Dilobocondyla  (22 species, 0 fossil species)

Secostruma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthomyrmex  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmecina  (106 species, 0 fossil species)

Perissomyrmex  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Pristomyrmex  (61 species, 3 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma  (36 species, 0 fossil species)

Propodilobus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lasiomyrma  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Ancyridris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Paratopula  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Poecilomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Romblonella  (10 species, 0 fossil species)

Rotastruma  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Gauromyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Vombisidris  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Temnothorax  (509 species, 7 fossil species)

Harpagoxenus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Formicoxenus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Leptothorax  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Myrmicinae for details.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • [Notes (i): The original spelling Crematogaster is used throughout, the incorrect subsequent spelling Cremastogaster is ignored. The incorrect spelling is common earlier, but persists as late as Baroni Urbani, 1974: 233, Schembri & Collingwood, 1981: 430, Le Moli & Rosi, 1991: 30; (ii): The spurious paper by Soulié & Dicko, 1965: 85, is ignored. This publication merely repeats, inaccurately, the Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 828 catalogue of Afrotopical Crematogaster, but treats the subgenera as genera, as nominated by Soulié, 1964, 1965.]

Prior to Blaimer's revisionary studies (Blaimer 2010, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2012d, 2013a, 2013b) of this diverse, globally distributed genus, Crematogaster systematics was in disarray. Almost all of the previous studies, from delimiting species to formulating hypotheses of higher-level relationships, relied exclusively on morphology. This kind of evidence is, on its own, insufficient in this genus. Blaimer's findings provided an outline of the evolutionary history of Crematogaster, placed all the species into one of two subgenera, and revised what had been a poorly characterized Malagasy fauna. Placing all the species into two subgenera, Crematogaster and Orthocrema, rid the genus of thirteen subgenera and numerous polyphyletic clades. Unfortunately, the diversity of the genus did not allow for a comprehensive sampling of species across the entire generic range. Additional work is needed to improve and refine our understanding of Crematogaster systematics. Despite this, there now exists a sound framework to guide future studies of this hyperdiverse genus.

Blaimer (2012c) stated: The two-subgenera system as proposed follows a deep molecular divergence event between Orthocrema and Crematogaster sensu stricto, tracing back into the Mid-Eocene (ca.40–45 Mya) when these two clades last shared a common ancestor (Blaimer, in press). Recognizing these two groups from each other on a morphological basis is fairly easily achieved, although a diagnosis of the Crematogaster sensu stricto is more problematic given the high morphological variability. An obvious further improvement to the system presented here would have been the recognition of the global Crematogaster clade and the Australo-Asian Crematogaster clade as separate subgeneric entities, as they certainly show enough molecular divergence to justify a three-subgenera-approach. I refrained from such a formal distinction since it was not possible to assign species to these groups on a morphological basis. I primarily aimed to develop a practical, ‘user-friendly’ classification. Petiole and postpetiolar characters that are useful for the distinction of Crematogaster sensu stricto and Orthocrema become hypervariable within the two sensu stricto clades and are not informative at deeper phylogenetic levels. Similar character patterns, for example the presence/absence of a median longitudinal impression on the postpetiole appear to have evolved multiple times within the genus, but the selective pressures acting on morphological evolution in Crematogaster have yet to be revealed. More biological data will need to be collected to investigate these questions.

North America

Deyrup and Cover (2007) - The first useful account of the North American Crematogaster was Creighton’s (1950) treatment of the genus in the “Ants of North America.” From the past Creighton inherited a confusing list of ill-defined taxa, the customary legacy to modern taxonomists from the “Bronze Age” of Ant Taxonomy (1750 - 1950), an era characterized by much honest descriptive effort that was critically undermined by the lack of a biologically realistic conceptual framework. Creighton began the process of bringing order to the North American ant fauna, and to the Crematogaster in particular, by employing the newly popularized biological species concept to elicit meaning from what seemed to be an intractable morass of names and morphological variation (see Buhs, 2000 for a discussion of this development). Expanding on this pioneering work, Buren (1958, 1968) revised the North American Crematogaster again, incorporating much newly available information. Like Creighton, Buren made extensive use of distributional data and natural history observations in making taxonomic decisions and, as a result, his work still forms the basis for our modern understanding of the genus in North America. Not much has been added since Buren’s studies. Johnson (1988) reviews the eastern species and presents a key to them. In an excellent new revision of the Crematogaster of Costa Rica, Longino (2003) makes several taxonomic changes that affect the North American fauna.

References

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