Dinomyrmex

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Dinomyrmex
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Dinomyrmex
Ashmead, 1905
Type species
Formica gigas, now Dinomyrmex gigas
Diversity
2 species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Camponotus cruentatus casent0906066 p 1 high.jpg

Camponotus cruentatus casent0906066 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Terror Ants

Diagnosis: Emery (1925) - "Worker. - Head of majors enormous, broad and notched posteriorly, sometimes with median ocellus; head of minors much narrower, posterior head margin rounded and prolonged into a short articular neck. Clypeus medially carinate, extending anteriorly as a long, rectangular lobe which has acute and distinct anterolateral angles (forming horn-like processes), anterior clypeal process notched medially. Mandibles with lateral margins straight, arching only apically; masticatory margin with six teeth, of which most are scalloped (doubled); basal margin dentate. Frontal carinae short, beginning at a very distant from the clypeus; antennal insertions set remarkably posterior to posterior clypeal margin. Antennae long. Mesosomal dorsum continuously arched. Petiolar scale thick, with apex forming a rounded point. Queen. - Head similar to media; ocelli more close-set. Male. - Head elongate, widening somewhat anteriorly near mandibular articulations. Clypeus anteriorly rounded. Mandibles narrow, terminating in an obtuse point. Pedicel shorter and thinner than the third antennomere, except at its two extremities.

Geographical distribution of the species. - Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo."

(Translated and edited by B. E. Boudinot, 15 February, 2017.)

Identification

Based on its phylogenetic position, as a lineage separate from both Camponotus and Colobopsis, and sister to all other camponotines except Opisthopsis and Colobopsis. Dinomyrmex is a distinctive camponotine, confined to southeast Asia, and recognized by the combination of very large size (HW 3.25–5.35), elongate antennae and legs, and the presence of a metapleural gland. The species also has characteristic mandibular dentition, with teeth occurring on both the masticatory and basal margins of the mandible (Emery 1925).

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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 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
Total Species 2840 1735 3042 932 835 4378 1740 2862

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Dinomyrmex gigas host cricket Camponophilus irmi myrmecophile Borneo Ingrisch, 1995
Dinomyrmex gigas host fungus Ophiocordyceps formicarum parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Dinomyrmex gigas host fungus Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Dinomyrmex gigas host fungus Ophiocordyceps halabalaensis pathogen Araujo et al., 2018
Dinomyrmex gigas host fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Dinomyrmex gigas host phorid fly Megaselia persecutrix parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
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Taxon Month Source Notes
Dinomyrmex gigas Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Pfeiffer & Linsenmair, 1997

Castes

Morphology

Phylogeny

Formicinae
Myrmelachistini
Lasiini
Melophorini
Formicini
Gesomyrmecini

Gesomyrmex  (7 species, 12 fossil species)

Oecophyllini

Oecophylla  (15 species, 16 fossil species)

Plagiolepidini
Gigantiopini

Gigantiops  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Santschiellini

Santschiella  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmoteratini

Myrmoteras  (41 species, 0 fossil species)

Camponotini

See Phylogeny of Formicinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • DINOMYRMEX [subgenus of Camponotus]
    • Dinomyrmex Ashmead, 1905b: 384. Type-species: Formica gigas, by original designation.
    • Dinomyrmex senior synonym of Myrmogigas: Forel, 1913b: 350 (in text); Forel, 1914a: 259; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 704.
    • [Dinomyrmex and Myrmogigas share the same type-species, synonymy is therefore absolute.]
  • MYRMOGIGAS [junior synonym of Dinomyrmex]
    • Myrmogigas Forel, 1912i: 91 [as subgenus of Camponotus]. Type-species: Formica gigas, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1913a: 81.
    • Myrmogigas junior synonym of Dinomyrmex: Forel, 1913c: 350 (in text); Forel, 1914a: 259.
    • [Dinomyrmex and Myrmogigas share the same type-species, synonymy is therefore absolute.]

References