Plagiolepis

Plagiolepis Temporal range: 37.2–0 Ma K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Eocene – Recent
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) Plagiolepis pygmaea Specimen Label
Synonyms
Anacantholepis Santschi, 1914 Aporomyrmex Faber, 1969 Paraplagiolepis Faber, 1969 Rhopalomyrmex Mayr, 1868

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   (139 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) - 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).

Photo Gallery

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  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.
• 

  Worker. Photo by Michal Kukla.
• 

  Queen. Photo by Michal Kukla.

Identification

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

• Key to Australian Genera of Formicinae

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to Arabian Plagiolepis Species

Distribution

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

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
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

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon	Month	Source	Notes
Plagiolepis pallescens	Jun • Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info
Plagiolepis xene	Jul • Aug	antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

• Mean colony size: 0-5000 (Greer et al., 2021)
• Compound colony type: inquilinism (Greer et al., 2021)
• Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
• Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)

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: 11-100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: monomorphic, at least one species polymorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

• 2n = 18 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985).
• 2n = 18 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
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)
• Hashimoto, Y. 1990. Unique features of sensilla on the antennae of Formicidae (Hymenoptera). Applied Entomology and Zoology 25: 491-501.
• Kreider, J.J., Chen, T.W., Hartke, T.R., Buchori, D., Hidayat, P., Nazarreta, R., Scheu, S., Drescher, J. 2021. Rainforest conversion to monocultures favors generalist ants with large colonies. Ecosphere 12 (doi:10.1002/ecs2.3717).
• Lorite, P., Palomeque, T. 2010. Karyotype evolution in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a review of the known ant chromosome numbers. Myrmecological News 13: 89-102.
• 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.