Plagiolepis
Plagiolepis Temporal range: 37.2–0 Ma Eocene – Recent | |
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Plagiolepis pygmaea | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Formicinae |
Tribe: | Plagiolepidini |
Genus: | Plagiolepis Mayr, 1861 |
Type species | |
Formica pygmaea, now Plagiolepis pygmaea | |
Diversity | |
75 species 10 fossil species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) | |
Synonyms | |
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Evolutionary Relationships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Based on Ward et al. 2016. |
Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - A moderate sized genus with 57 valid species (Bolton, 2012). These ants are restricted to the tropical and temperate regions of the Old World (Robertson, 2000). No modern revision or a key to species exist, which is a serious obstacle for the identification of Plagiolepis species. Very little is known about their biology; they are small formicines nesting on trees, rotten wood, twigs, or in the soil (Bolton, 1973a).
Contents
Photo Gallery
- This Plagiolepis worker, most likely Plagiolepis lucidula, was found on a Powderbark tree near Toodyay, Western Australia. They are general predators that also tend Hemiptera for honeydew, and are generally winter-active. Photo by Farhan Bokhari, 2 July 2009.
Identification
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See images of species within this genus |
Keys including this Genus
Keys to Species in this Genus
Distribution
Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps
Fossils
Fossils are known from: Baltic amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Bitterfeld amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Danish-Scandinavian amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Rovno amber (Priabonian, Late Eocene) and Sicilian amber, Italy (Late/Upper Miocene).
Biology
These ants are easily overlooked owing to the number of minute and similarly coloured species of Iridomyrmex, Tapinoma, Bothriomyrmex or Nylanderia encountered almost everywhere in the Australian bush. (Wheeler 1934)
Association with Other Organisms
All Associate Records for Genus
Taxon | Relationship | Associate Type | Associate Taxon | Associate Relationship | Locality | Source | Notes |
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Plagiolepis ampeloni | workerless inquiline | ant | Plagiolepis pallescens | host | |||
Plagiolepis delaugerrei | workerless inquiline | ant | Plagiolepis pallescens | host | Corsica, France | Casevitz-Weulersse, 2014 | |
Plagiolepis grassei | workerless inquiline | ant | Plagiolepis pygmaea | host | |||
Plagiolepis pallescens | host | ant | Plagiolepis ampeloni | workerless inquiline | |||
Plagiolepis pallescens | host | ant | Plagiolepis delaugerrei | workerless inquiline | Corsica, France | Casevitz-Weulersse, J. 2014 | |
Plagiolepis pallescens | host | fungus | Myrmicinosporidium durum | pathogen | Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012 | ||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | host | ant | Plagiolepis grassei | workerless inquiline | |||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | host | ant | Plagiolepis xene | workerless inquiline | |||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | host | fungus | Myrmicinosporidium durum | pathogen | Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012 | ||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | mutualist | butterfly | Leptotes pirithous | Obregon et al. 2015 | |||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | mutualist | butterfly | Pseudophilotes abencerragus | Obregon et al. 2015 | |||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | mutualist | butterfly | Tomares ballus | Obregon et al. 2015 | |||
Plagiolepis xene | workerless inquiline | ant | Plagiolepis pygmaea | host |
Castes
Morphology
Worker Morphology
- Antennal segment count: 11
- Antennal club: absent-gradual, weak
- Palp formula: 6,4
- Total dental count: 5-6
- Spur formula: 0, 0
- Eyes: present
- Scrobes: absent
- Caste: at least one species polymorphic
- Sting: absent
Karyotype
Species Uncertain
- 2n = 18 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985).
- 2n = 18 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
All Karyotype Records for Genus
Taxon | Haploid | Diploid | Karyotype | Locality | Source | Notes |
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Plagiolepis | 18 | Indonesia | Imai et al., 1985 | |||
Plagiolepis | 18 | Malaysia | Imai et al., 1983 | |||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | 9 | 18 | Croatia; Spain; Switzerland | Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1983 | ||
Plagiolepis pygmaea | 9 | 18 | 14M+2SM+2ST | Spain | Palomeque et al., 1993a | |
Plagiolepis schmitzii | 9 | 18 | Tunisia | Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1983 | as ''Plagiolepis barbara'' | |
Plagiolepis schmitzii | 9 | 18 | 12M+2A+2T | Spain | Palomeque et al., 1990b; Palomeque et al., 1993a | as ''Plagiolepis barbara'' |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- PLAGIOLEPIS [Formicinae: Plagiolepidini]
- Plagiolepis Mayr, 1861: 42. Type-species: Formica pygmaea, by monotypy.
- Plagiolepis senior synonym of Aporomyrmex, Paraplagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
- Plagiolepis senior synonym of †Rhopalomyrmex: Dlussky, 1997: 59.
- Plagiolepis senior synonym of Anacantholepis: Bolton, 2003: 105, 268.
- ANACANTHOLEPIS [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
- Anacantholepis Santschi, 1914e: 36 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Plagiolepis (Anacantholepis) decora, by original designation.
- Anacantholepis raised to genus: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 212.
- Anacantholepis junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 2003: 105, 268.
- APOROMYRMEX [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
- Aporomyrmex Faber, 1969: 52. Type-species: Aporomyrmex ampeloni, by original designation.
- Aporomyrmex junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
- PARAPLAGIOLEPIS [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
- Paraplagiolepis Faber, 1969: 65 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Plagiolepis xene, by monotypy.
- Paraplagiolepis junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
- †RHOPALOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
- †Rhopalomyrmex Mayr, 1868c: 41. Type-species: †Rhopalomyrmex pygmaeus, by monotypy.
- †Rhopalomyrmex junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Dlussky, 1997: 59.
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. (page 296, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Pseudolasius genus group)
- Arnold, G. 1920a. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part IV. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 403-578 (page 578, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 384, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 51, Synonymy of Aporomyrmex and Paraplagiolepis confirmed.)
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 105, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Bondroit, J. 1918. Les fourmis de France et de Belgique. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 87: 1-174 (page 18, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Brown, W. L., Jr. 1973b. A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. Pp. 161-185 in: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S., Duckworth, W. D. (eds.) Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Wash (page 178, Plagiolepis provisional senior synonym of Anacantholepis, Aporomyrmex and Paraplagiolepis.)
- Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 172, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae)
- Dlussky, G. M. 1997a. Genera of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Baltic amber. Paleontol. Zh. 6: 50-62 (page 59, Plagiolepis senior synonym of *Dlussky, G.M. 2010. Ants of the genus Plagiolepis Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Late Eocene ambers of Europe. Paleontological Journal, 44, 546–555.
- Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 771, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 19, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Emery, C.; Forel, A. 1879. Catalogue des Formicides d'Europe. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 5: 441-481 (page 453, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae [Camponotidae])
- Forel, A. 1878c. Études myrmécologiques en 1878 (première partie) avec l'anatomie du gésier des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 15: 337-392 (page 378, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae [Camponotidae])
- Forel, A. 1886h. Études myrmécologiques en 1886. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 30: 131-215 (page 212, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Forel, A. 1893b. Sur la classification de la famille des Formicides, avec remarques synonymiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 37: 161-167 (page 165, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Forel, A. 1912j. Formicides néotropiques. Part VI. 5me sous-famille Camponotinae Forel. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 20: 59-92 (page 88, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 249, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Mayr, G. 1861. Die europäischen Formiciden. Nach der analytischen Methode bearbeitet. Wien: C. Gerolds Sohn, 80 pp. (page 42, Plagiolepis as genus; Plagiolepis in Formicinae [Formicinae])
- Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 12: 649-776 (page 652, Plagiolepis in Formicinae [Formicidae])
- Mayr, G. 1865. Formicidae. In: Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte "Novara" um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859. Zoologischer Theil. Bd. II. Abt. 1. Wien: K. Gerold's Sohn, 119 pp. (page 7, Plagiolepis in Formicinae [Formicidae])
- Mayr, G. 1868c. Die Ameisen des baltischen Bernsteins. Beitr. Naturkd. Preuss. 1: 1-102 (page 36, Plagiolepis in Formicinae [Formicidae])
- Rabeling, C. 2020. Social Parasitism. In: Starr, C. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham. (doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_175-1).
- Rhopalomyrmex)
- Santschi, F. 1926a. Trois notes myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 95: 13-28 (page 14, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 143, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1915i [1914]. The ants of the Baltic Amber. Schr. Phys.-Ökon. Ges. Königsb. 55: 1-142 (page 100, Plagiolepis in Camponotinae, Plagiolepidini)
- 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, Plagiolepis in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1934d. Contributions to the fauna of Rottnest Island, Western Australia. No. IX. The ants. J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 20: 137-163.
- Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls
- Articles using diversity taxobox
- Photo Gallery
- Baltic amber fossil
- Eocene
- Bitterfeld amber fossil
- Danish-Scandinavian amber fossil
- Rovno amber fossil
- Sicilian amber fossil
- Miocene
- Genus with Associate
- Karyotype
- Genus with Karyotype
- Genus
- Extant genus
- Formicidae
- Formicinae
- Plagiolepidini
- Plagiolepis
- Formicinae genera
- Plagiolepidini genera
- Need Body Text