Temnothorax algerianus
Temnothorax algerianus | |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
Genus: | Temnothorax |
Species: | T. algerianus |
Binomial name | |
Temnothorax algerianus (Cagniant, 1968) |
Temnothorax algerianus, a parasitic ant species widely distributed in northern Algeria and Morocco, is an active slavemaker which is able to form colonies with numerous Epimyrma workers. In most populations colonies are polygynous but monogynous and functionally monogynous colonies occur as well. Young sexuals mate inside the mother nests. Young queens may remain there, or leave the nests for founding their own colonies, in fall, winter, or in spring, thus over an unusually protracted period and at comparatively low temperatures. Agonistic behavior between the parasite queens in polygynous colonies has been observed. It may be responsible for the decision of young queens either to leave or to remain in the mother nest. (Buschinger et al., 1990)
At a Glance | • Dulotic • Polygynous |
Identification
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 37.088611° to 32.249974°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria (type locality), Morocco.
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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Temnothorax algerianus is a slave-making ant belonging to the former genus Myrmoxenus. For colony foundation a mated young queen penetrates a colony of the host species (most frequently Temnothorax spinosus) and throttles its queen to death. She then is accepted as replacement queen by the adult host workers.
The following species are known slaves of Temnothorax algerianus (Buschinger et al., 1990):
- Temnothorax curtulus
- Temnothorax gentilis
- Temnothorax monjauzei
- Temnothorax spinosus (the most common host)
Different from relatives (cf. Temnothorax ravouxi) several reproductive queens may be present in the slavemaker colony (polygyny). Workers of T. algerianus conduct slave raids on neighboring nests of the host species.
Life History Traits
- Queen number: polygynous (Buschinger, 1989; Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- algerianus. Epimyrma algeriana Cagniant, 1968c: 157, figs. 1-4 (w.q.m.) ALGERIA. Combination in Temnothorax: Ward et al., 2014: 15. See also: Kutter, 1973e: 281; Buschinger, Jessen & Cagniant, 1990: 23.
Description
Karyotype
- See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.
Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
- n = 10 (Douwes et al., 1988) (as Epimyrma algeriana).
Worker Morphology
Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
- Caste: monomorphic
References
- Buschinger, A. 1989a. Evolution, speciation, and inbreeding in the parasitic ant genus Epimyrma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 2: 265-283.
- Buschinger, A.; Jessen, K.; Cagniant, H. 1990. The life history of Epimyrma algeriana, a slave-making ant with facultative polygyny (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zool. Beitr. (N.F.) 33: 23-49.
- Cagniant, H. 1968c. Description d'Epimyrma algeriana (nov. sp.) (Hyménoptères Formicidae, Myrmicinae), fourmi parasite. Représentation des trois castes. Quelques observations biologiques, écologiques et éthologiques. Insectes Soc. 15: 157-170.
- Kutter, H. 1973f. Beitrag zur Lösung taxonomischer Probleme in der Gattung Epimyrma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 46: 281-289 (page 281, see also)
- Schifani, E., Csősz, S., Viviano, R., Alicata, A. 2021. Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Natural History Sciences 8, 55–70 (doi:10.4081/nhs.2021.532).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Buschinger, A., K. Jessen, and H. Cagniant. "The life history of Epimyrma algeriana, a slave-making ant with facultative polygyny (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)." Zoologische Beiträge (N.F.)33 (1990): 23-49.
- Cagniant, H. "Liste préliminaire de fourmis forestières d'Algérie. Résultats obtenus de 1963 à 1966." Bulletin de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse 104 (1968): 138-147.
- Pages using DynamicPageList3 parser function
- IUCN Red List vulnerable species
- Dulotic
- Polygynous
- Need species key
- North temperate
- North subtropical
- Ant Associate
- Host of Temnothorax curtulus
- Host of Temnothorax gentilis
- Host of Temnothorax monjauzei
- Host of Temnothorax spinosus
- Karyotype
- Species
- Extant species
- Formicidae
- Myrmicinae
- Crematogastrini
- Temnothorax
- Temnothorax algerianus
- Myrmicinae species
- Crematogastrini species
- Temnothorax species
- Need Overview
- Need Body Text
- IUCN Red List