Stereomyrmex

Stereomyrmex
Stereomyrmex horni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Stereomyrmex Emery, 1901
Type species
Stereomyrmex horni
Diversity
3 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Stereomyrmex horni Specimen Label
Synonyms
Willowsiella Wheeler, W.M., 1934

Evolutionary Relationships

Rostromyrmex Cardiocondyla Ocymyrmex Nesomyrmex Xenomyrmex Terataner Atopomyrmex Cataulacus Carebara Diplomorium Melissotarsus Rhopalomastix Calyptomyrmex Tetramorium Cyphoidris Dicroaspis Aretidris Vollenhovia Dacetinops Indomyrma Crematogaster Meranoplus Lophomyrmex Adlerzia Recurvidris Stereomyrmex Trichomyrmex Eutetramorium Royidris Malagidris Vitsika Huberia Podomyrma Liomyrmex Metapone Kartidris Mayriella Tetheamyrma Dacatria Proatta Dilobocondyla Secostruma Acanthomyrmex Myrmecina Perissomyrmex Pristomyrmex some Lordomyrma Propodilobus Lasiomyrma [some Lordomyrma Ancyridris some Lordomyrma Paratopula Poecilomyrma Romblonella Rotastruma Gauromyrmex Vombisidris Temnothorax Harpagoxenus Formicoxenus Leptothorax

Based on Ward et al. (2014) and Blaimer et al. (2018).

This small genus of 3 species is poorly known. Only Stereomyrmex anderseni, from Australia, has specimen data that provides any clues in regard to their biology. The holotype was collected in a pitfall trap in sclerophyll woodland on brown sand.

Identification

Taylor (1991) for the synonymized Willowsiella - Stereomyrmex and Romblonella share several features considered to indicate relationship between them. These include the general configuration of the mesosoma and nodes (despite the differences in the latter), and the fundamentally similar dental, fronto-clypeal, palpal and sting structures (the latter at least as visible without dissection). The two genera may be readily distinguished as follows:

Stereomyrmex - Antennae 11-jointed. Fronto-clypeal area strongly inflated. Antennal scrobes lacking. Petiole massively inflated (in S. dispar ), or somewhat scale-like and transverse (in S. anderseni). Postpetiole relatively small compared to petiole, transverse, and somewhat scale-like. Gaster emarginate at base, following the posterior outline of the postpetiole when viewed from above.

Romblonella - Antennae 12-jointed. Fronto-clypeal area unexceptionally inflated. Antenna scrobes strongly developed. Petiole somewhat globular but not unexceptionally inflated or transverse. Postpetiole of more normal proportions, subspherical, more-or-less as long as wide in dorsal view, at most only slightly smaller than petiole; usually larger. Gaster not basally emarginate.

Keys including this Genus

• Key to Australian Genera of Myrmicinae

 

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 11
• Antennal club: 3
• Palp formula: 5,3
• Total dental count: 4-5
• Spur formula: 0, 0
• Sting: present

Male Morphology

 • Antennal segment count 11 • Antennal club 4-5

Nomenclature

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

• STEREOMYRMEX [Myrmicinae: Formicoxenini]
  • Stereomyrmex Emery, 1901f: 115. Type-species: Stereomyrmex horni, by monotypy.
  • Stereomyrmex senior synonym of Willowsiella: Bolton, 2003: 252, 273.
• WILLOWSIELLA [junior synonym of Stereomyrmex]
  • Willowsiella Wheeler, W.M. 1934a: 174. Type-species: Willowsiella dispar, by original designation.
  • Willowsiella junior synonym of Stereomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 252, 273.

Emery 1901. Page 115

Emery 1901. Page 116

References

• 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 383, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Stenammini)
• Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 105, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Formicoxenini)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 252, 273, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Formicoxenini; Stereomyrmex senior synonym of Willowsiella)
• Emery, C. 1901h. Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1901: 113-122 (page 115, Stereomyrmex as genus)
• Emery, C. 1914e. Intorno alla classificazione dei Myrmicinae. Rend. Sess. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna Cl. Sci. Fis. (n.s.) 18: 29-42 (page 40, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Stereomyrmecini)
• Emery, C. 1922c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174B: 95-206 (page 119, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Stereomyrmecini)
• Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 242, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Stereomyrmecini)
• Taylor, R.W. 1991. Notes on the ant genera Romblonella and Willowsiella, with comments on their affinities, and the first description of Australian species. Psyche. 97:281-296.
• Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 139, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Myrmicini)
• 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 661, Stereomyrmex in Myrmicinae, Stereomyrmecini)