Anoplolepis

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - Anoplolepis is a relatively small genus with only nine valid species (Bolton, 2012). Predominantly Afrotropical, with fewer species in the Malagasy and Oriental regions and some introduced in other regions. There is no modern revision available for this genus on an Afrotropical basis, although Prins (1982) presented a taxonomic treatment for the South African species. Unfortunately, he only provided a key to the queen and male castes. These formicines are epigaeic and active ants that forage on the ground or the vegetation. Their diet is comparatively variable since they feed on a variety of small arthropods but also on honeydew produced by aphids or coccids (Prins, 1982).

Identification

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Keys including this Genus

 

Afrotropical species

A list of all the Afrotropical species with images Afrotropical species with images is available

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 15 1 1 2 0 1 1 1
Total Species 2839 1735 3036 932 834 4378 1708 2836

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

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Species Uncertain

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Anoplolepis host eucharitid wasp Athairocharis vannoorti parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database primary host
Anoplolepis host eucharitid wasp Athairocharis vannoorti parasitoid Quevillon, 2018 multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus albicinctus myrmecophile Indo-Pacific region Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus antilucanus myrmecophile Indo-Pacific region Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus dubius myrmecophile Indo-Pacific region Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus hebardi myrmecophile Fiji, Solomon Islands Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus mayaealberti myrmecophile Indo-Pacific region Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus pallidithorax myrmecophile Borneo, Sarawak Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmecophilus quadrispina myrmecophile Indo-Pacific region Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes host cricket Myrmophilellus pilipes myrmecophile New Guinea Hsu et al., 2020
Anoplolepis gracilipes mutualist aphid Aphis gossypii trophobiont Idechiil et al., 2007; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Anoplolepis gracilipes mutualist aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa trophobiont Idechiil et al., 2007; Saddiqui et al., 2019
Anoplolepis gracilipes mutualist butterfly Lampides boeticus Obregon et al. 2015
Anoplolepis gracilipes prey tiger beetle Cicindela duponti predator Western Ghats, India Sinu et al., 2006

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon Month Source Notes
Anoplolepis gracilipes Apr antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 4000-millions (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 11 • Antennal club: gradual • Total dental count: 6-9(0-2) • Spur formula: 1 simple, 1 simple • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: most monomorphic, several species polymorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Karyotype

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Anoplolepis gracilipes 17 34 India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Sarawak Goni et al., 1982; Tjan et al., 1986; Imai et al., 1983; Imai et al., 1984; Imai et al., 1985 as ''Anoplolepis longipes''

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.

  • ANOPLOLEPIS [Formicinae: Lasiini]
    • Anoplolepis Santschi, 1914b: 123 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Formica longipes (junior primary homonym in Formica, Formica gracilipes first available replacement name), by monotypy: Bolton, 1995b: 20.
    • Anoplolepis raised to genus: Emery, 1925b: 16.
    • Anoplolepis senior synonym of Zealleyella: Bolton, 2003: 96, 267.
  • ZEALLEYELLA [junior synonym of Anoplolepis]
    • Zealleyella Arnold, 1922: 579 (diagnosis in key) [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Formica custodiens, by subsequent designation of Santschi, 1926a: 14.
    • Zealleyella subgenus of Anoplolepis: Santschi, 1926a: 14.
    • Zealleyella junior synonym of Anoplolepis: Bolton, 2003: 96, 267.

References

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