Mycetomoellerius zeteki

Mycetomoellerius zeteki
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Mycetomoellerius
Species:	M. zeteki
Binomial name
Mycetomoellerius zeteki (Weber, 1940) Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Trachymyrmex balboai Weber, 1940

A fungus growing ant. Weber (1940) found a nest at the slope of a hill in the back of the Barro Colorado island laboratory in dense shade, with a single chamber about 67mm deep in the soil, horizontally elliptical, 42 X 80mm. In 1972, Weber described briefly the population and male flights in the laboratory.

Photo Gallery

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  A Mycetomoellerius zeteki worker encounters a Megalomyrmex adamsae worker within her nest. Megalomyrmex adamsae lives in the fungus garden of Mycetomoellerius and preys selectively on its brood. Although a parasite within the nest, Megalomyrmex adamsae defends the garden from attack. Panama (captive colony at the University of Texas). Photo by Alex Wild.

Identification

A member of the jamaicensis species group. Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão (2007) - See comments for Mycetomoellerius atlanticus. Mycetomoellerius zeteki females share with Mycetomoellerius isthmicus and Mycetomoellerius ixyodus projecting teeth at the anterior margin of the frontal lobes, but differ from females of M. ixyodus by the presence of a single midpronotal denticle, while females of Mycetomoellerius isthmicus show double midpronotal denticles.

Santos et al. (2025) provide a multi-entry interactive key based on the xper3 platform which contains 27 characters and, as terminals, 30 species of Mycetomoellerius, representing almost all described species except for Mycetomoellerius echinus, Mycetomoellerius gaigei and Mycetomoellerius guianensis, which are excluded due to lack of clear information or available specimens for study.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Trachymyrmex jamaicensis species group workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.43333333° to -0.5833°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

Explore Fungus Growing  For additional details see Fungus growing ants. A handful of ant species (approx. 275 out of the known 15,000 species) have developed the ability to cultivate fungus within their nests. In most species the fungus is used as the sole food source for the larvae and is an important resource for the adults as well. Additionally, in a limited number of cases, the fungus is used to construct part of the nest structure but is not as a food source. These fungus-feeding species are limited to North and South America, extending from the pine barrens of New Jersey, United States, in the north (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) to the cold deserts in Argentina in the south (several species of Acromyrmex). Species that use fungi in nest construction are known from Europe and Africa (a few species in the genera Crematogaster, Lasius). The details of fungal cultivation are rich and complex. First, a wide variety of materials are used as substrate for fungus cultivating. The so-called lower genera include species that prefer dead vegetation, seeds, flowers, fruits, insect corpses, and feces, which are collected in the vicinity of their nests. The higher genera include non leaf-cutting species that collect mostly fallen leaflets, fruit, and flowers, as well as the leafcutters that collect fresh leaves from shrubs and trees. Second, while the majority of fungi that are farmed by fungus-feeding ants belong to the family Lepiotaceae, mostly the genera Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus, other fungi are also involved. Some species utilise fungi in the family Tricholomataceae while a few others cultivate yeast. The fungi used by the higher genera no longer produce spores. Their fungi produce nutritious and swollen hyphal tips (gongylidia) that grow in bundles called staphylae, to specifically feed the ants. Finally, colony size varies tremendously among these ants. Lower taxa mostly live in inconspicuous nests with 100–1000 individuals and relatively small fungus gardens. Higher taxa, in contrast, live in colonies made of 5–10 million ants that live and work within hundreds of interconnected fungus-bearing chambers in huge subterranean nests. Some colonies are so large, they can be seen from satellite photos, measuring up to 600 m3. Based on these habits, and taking phylogenetic information into consideration, these ants can be divided into six biologically distinct agricultural systems (with a list of genera involved in each category): Nest Construction A limited number of species that use fungi in the construction of their nests. some Crematogaster some Lasius Lower Agriculture Practiced by species in the majority of fungus-feeding genera, including those thought to retain more primitive features, which cultivate a wide range of fungal species in the tribe Leucocoprineae. some Apterostigma Cyatta (1 species) some Cyphomyrmex Kalathomyrmex (1 species) Mycocepurus (6 species) Myrmicocrypta (31 species) Mycetarotes (4 species) Mycetosoritis (2 species) Mycetophylax (21 species) Paramycetophylax (1 species) Xerolitor (1 species) Coral Fungus Agriculture Practiced by species in the Apterostigma pilosum species-group, which cultivate fungi within the Pterulaceae. some Apterostigma Yeast Agriculture Practiced by species within the Cyphomyrmex rimosus species-group, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi derived from the lower attine fungi. some Cyphomyrmex Generalized Higher Agriculture Practiced by species in several genera of non-leaf-cutting "higher attine" ants, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi separately derived from the lower attine fungi. Mycetomoellerius (33 species) Paratrachymyrmex (9 species) Sericomyrmex (11 species) Trachymyrmex (9 species) Leaf-Cutter Agriculture A subdivision of higher attine agriculture practiced by species within several ecologically dominant genera, which cultivate a single highly derived species of higher attine fungus. Acromyrmex (51 species) Amoimyrmex (3 species) Atta (20 species) Note that the farming habits of Mycetagroicus (4 species) are unknown. Also, while species of Pseudoatta (2 species) are closely related to the fungus-feeding genus Acromyrmex, they are social parasites, living in the nests of their hosts and are not actively involved in fungus growing. ‎

This species is a host for the ant Megalomyrmex adamsae (a xenobiont). Parasitised colonies have reduced host worker and alate numbers, as well as lower garden biomass, compared with non-parasitised colonies, confirming that M. adamsae is a xenobiotic social parasite. However, host queen survival is not significantly different between parasitised and control colonies (Adams et al., 2012).

Association with Other Organisms

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

• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Acanthopria sp. (a parasite) in Panama (Pérez-Ortega et al., 2010) (ant species as Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Acanthopria sp. (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Mimopriella sp. 1 (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Mimopriella sp. 2 (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Mimopriella sp. (a parasite) in Panama (Pérez-Ortega et al., 2010) (ant species as Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Oxypria sp. (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Oxypria sp. (a parasite) in Panama (Pérez-Ortega et al., 2010) (ant species as Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Szelenyiopria sp. (a parasite) in Panama (Pérez-Ortega et al., 2010) (ant species as Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Szelenyiopria sp. 1 (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
• This species is a host for the diapriid wasp Szelenyiopria sp. 2 (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode independent; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).

Phylogeny

Mycetomoellerius	Mycetomoellerius urichii Mycetomoellerius papulatus Mycetomoellerius papulatus Mycetomoellerius holmgreni Mycetomoellerius cirratus Mycetomoellerius kempfi Mycetomoellerius iheringi Mycetomoellerius sp. near cirratus
	Mycetomoellerius ruthae Mycetomoellerius jamaicensis Mycetomoellerius atlanticus Mycetomoellerius near haytianus Mycetomoellerius opulentus Mycetomoellerius dichrous Mycetomoellerius relictus Mycetomoellerius turrifex Mycetomoellerius zeteki

Based on Micolino et al., 2020 (selected species only).

Nomenclature

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

• zeteki. Trachymyrmex zeteki Weber, 1940a: 422 (w.) PANAMA.
  • Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão, 2007: 17 (q.).
  • Combination in Mycetomoellerius: Solomon et al., 2019: 948.
  • Senior synonym of balboai: Weber, 1958b: 55.
• balboai. Trachymyrmex balboai Weber, 1940a: 424 (w.) PANAMA.
  • Junior synonym of zeteki: Weber, 1958b: 55.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão (2007) - (n = 3). TL 5.0 (4.7–5.2); DHL 1.44 (1.40–1.48); HW 1.44 (1.42–1.48); IFW 0.83 (0.80–0.86); ScL 1.00 (0.97–1.02); HWL 0.85 (0.77–0.92); MeL 1.92 (1.88–1.98); PL 0.44 (0.38–0.49); PPL 0.42; GL 1,33 (1.26–1.42); HfL 2.01 (1.97–2.05).

Ferruginous. Integument opaque and finely granulose. Pilosity: bristly spatulate dark hairs with lighter tips, confined to body projections; short, strongly curved and hook-like hairs in other parts of the body.

Trachymyrmex zeteki worker. Mayhe-Nunes and Brandao 2007. Figs. 23-26

Head in full face view (Fig. 23) as long as broad (DCI average 100; 99–101). Outer border of mandible feebly sinuous; chewing border with 8 teeth, with a diastema between the second and third teeth, the last six approximately of the same size, smaller than apical and sub-apical teeth. Clypeus median apron without projections. Frontal area impressed. Frontal lobe semicircular, moderately expanded (FLI average 57; 56–58), with weakly crenate free border and one prominent denticle on the antero-lateral border. Frontal carina marked, moderately diverging caudad, reaching the antennal scrobe posterior end in a single tooth at the vertexal margin; preocular carina posteriorly ending in one multituberculated and stout tubercle, with the tip outwards directed near the posterior margin of head. Occipital spine almost as long as preocular carina projection. Supraocular projection tuberculiform. Inferior corner of occiput, in side view, with a minute tooth. Eye faintly convex, only its anterior half surpassing the lateral border of head; 11 facets in a row across the greatest diameter. Antennal scape short, when lodged in the scrobe not surpassing the tip of the preocular carina projection; gradually thickened towards apex, covered with small piligerous tubercles.

Mesosoma (Figs. 24, 25). Pronotal dorsum marginate in front and on sides; antero-inferior corner with a small triangular and acute flattened spine; inferior margin weakly crenulated; median pronotal tooth with bifid tip, projected bellow the tip of the longer lateral pronotal spines, which point obliquely upwards from the pronotum, in frontal view. Anterior pair of mesonotal spines almost as long and stout as the lateral pronotal projections, directed upwards; the second pair smaller, but spine-like and longer than the tooth-like third pair. Anterior margin of katepisternun smooth, without a projecting tooth. Metanotal constriction very impressed. Basal face of propodeum laterally marginated by a row of 3–4 denticles on each side; propodeal spines longer than the distance between their inner bases. Hind femora a little longer than mesosoma length.

Waist and gaster (Fig. 26). Dorsum of petiolar node with two pairs of minute spines, the sides subparallel in dorsal view, with a series of lateral denticles. Postpetiole almost as long as broad in dorsal view, and impressed dorsally, with straight postero-dorsal border; sternum without sagital keel. Gaster, when seen from above, suboval. Tergum I with straight lateral faces separated from the dorsal face by a longitudinal row of piligerous tubercles; anterior two thirds of gaster dorsum with three piligerous shallow longitudinal furrows, separated by a pair of tubercles rows. Sternum I without an anterior sagital keel.

Queen

Trachymyrmex zeteki queen. Mayhe-Nunes and Brandao 2007. Figs. 27-28

Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão (2007) - (Figs. 27, 28): TL 6.9; DHL 1.74; HW 1.63; IFW 1.02; ScL 1.14; HWL 1.05; MeL 2.43; PL 0.68; PPL 0.57; GL 2.17; HfL 2.20.

Resembling the worker with the usual caste differences. The median anterior ocellus without a down curved ridge above, and the two lateral ones partially concealed by the longitudinal carinae of vertex. Pronotum with a pair of strong and acute scapular spines on each side, directed out and forwards, the inferior ones pointed down and forwards. Mesoscutum surmounted by conspicuous tubercles, but without notable dorsal projections, superficially impressed on posterior region, with a median notch in the middle of anterior margin in dorsal view. Shallowly impressed parapses delimited by the conspicuous parapsidial furrows; dorsum of mesothoracic paraptera more or less impressed, oblique in relation to scutellum dorsum in side view, with a narrow median portion when seen from above; scutellum ending in a pair of moderately stout and acute spines, directed backwards, with the sides converging obliquely inwards; metathoracic paraptera concealed by the scutellum in dorsal view; propodeal spiracle orifices on a tubercular projection. Two massive and acute spines on propodeum, longer than pronotal ones. Petiolar dorsum with two pairs of minute teeth near the anterior and posterior margins. First gastric tergite with a longitudinal ridge on each side; disk with two longitudinal series of small piligerous tubercles, absent in the middle of the segment. Wings unknown.

Type Material

Mayhé-Nunes & Brandão (2007) - Syntype worker: PANAMA Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island, 25.vi.1938, N. A. Weber leg., 1 worker (“cotype” # 59827 deposited in National Museum of Natural History).

References

• Adams, R.M.M., Shah, K., Antonov, L.D., Mueller, U.M. 2012. Fitness consequences of nest infiltration by the mutualist-exploiter Megalomyrmex adamsae. Ecological Entomology 37: 453–462 (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01384.x).
• Cardenas, C.R., Luo, A.R., Jones, T.H., Schultz, T.R., Adams, R.M.M. 2021. Using an integrative taxonomic approach to delimit a sibling species, Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos sp. nov. (Formicidae: Attini: Attina). PeerJ 9, e11622 (doi:10.7717/peerj.11622).
• Mayhé-Nunes, A.J., Brandão, C.R.F. 2007. Revisionary studies on the attine ant genus Trachymyrmex Forel. Part 3: The Jamaicensis group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa. 1444:1-21 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1444.1.1).
• Pérez-Ortega, B., Fernández-Marín, H., Loiácono, M.S., Galgani, P., Wcislo, W.T. 2010. Biological notes on a fungus-growing ant, Trachymyrmex cf. zeteki (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Attini) attacked by a diverse community of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae). Insectes Sociaux 57, 317–322 (doi:10.1007/s00040-010-0086-1).
• Santos, C.D.A.D., Chaul, J.C.M., Serrao, J.E. 2025. Taxonomic contributions to Mycetomoellerius Solomon et al., 2019 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae): description of two new species and a key for the genus. Zootaxa 5569(1), 93–118 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5569.1.3)
• Solomon, S.E., Rabeling, C., Sosa-Calvo, J., Lopes, C.T., Rodrigues, A., Vasconcelos, H.L., Bacci Jr, M., Mueller, U.G., Schultz, T.R. 2019. The molecular phylogenetics of Trachymyrmex Forel ants and their fungal cultivars provide insights into the origin and coevolutionary history of ‘higher-attine’ ant agriculture. Systematic Entomology 44: 939-956 (doi:10.1111/syen.12370).
• Weber, N. A. 1940b. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part VI. Key to Cyphomyrmex, new Attini and a new guest ant. Rev. Entomol. (Rio J.) 11: 406-427 (page 422, worker described)
• Weber, N. A. 1958b. Nomenclatural changes in Trachymyrmex (Hym.: Formicidae). Entomol. News 69: 49-55 (page 55, Senior synonym of balboai)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
• Kaspari M., D. Donoso, J. A. Lucas, T. Zumbusch, and A. D. Kay. 2012. Using nutritional ecology to predict community structure: a field test in Neotropical ants. Ecosphere 3(11): art.93.
• Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
• Longino J. T., J. Coddington, and R. K. Colwell. 2002. The ant fauna of a tropical rain forest: estimating species richness three different ways. Ecology 83: 689-702.
• Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
• Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
• Mayhe-Nunes A. J., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2007. Revisionary studies on the attine ant genus Trachymyrmex Forel. Part 3: The Jamaicensis group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 1444: 1-21.
• Solomon S. E., C. Rabeling, J. Sosa-Calvo, C. Lopes, A. Rodrigues, H. L. Vasconcelos, M. Bacci, U. G. Mueller, and T. R. Schultz. 2019. The molecular phylogenetics of Trachymyrmex Forel ants and their fungal cultivars provide insights into the origin and coevolutionary history of ‘higher-attine’ ant agriculture. Systematic Entomology 44: 939–956.
• Vergara-Navarro E. V., and F. Serna. 2013. A checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the department of Antioquia, Colombia and new records for the country. Agronomía Colombiana 31(3): 324-342.
• Weber N. A. 1940. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part VI. Key to Cyphomyrmex, new Attini and a new guest ant. Rev. Entomol. (Rio J.) 11: 406-427.
• Weber N. A. 1941. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part VII. The Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, species. Rev. Entomol. (Rio J.) 12: 93-130.
• Weber N. A. 1958. Nomenclatural changes in Trachymyrmex (Hym.: Formicidae). Entomological News 69: 49-55.