Gesomyrmex

A poorly known resident of tree canopies in Oriental tropics, showing a striking diversity of caste morphologies.

Identification
Dubovikov (2004) - The workers of this genus have 8-jointed antennae and soldiers of Gesomyrmex chaperi have 9-jointed antennae (Wheeler, 1916), whereas females have 10-jointed antennae.

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Dubovikov (2004) - Members of this genus are very rare and ancient forms. The population of their nests are small and they live in small branches of trees (Cole, 1949b). Identification key to five living Gesomyrmex species was published by Cole (1949a).

Nomenclature

 *  GESOMYRMEX [Formicinae: Gesomyrmecini]
 * Gesomyrmex Mayr, 1868c: 50. Type-species: †Gesomyrmex hoernesi, by monotypy.
 * Gesomyrmex senior synonym of Gaesomyrmex: Forel, 1893a: 167.
 * Gesomyrmex senior synonym of Dimorphomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1929a: 1.
 * DIMORPHOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Gesomyrmex]
 * Dimorphomyrmex André, 1892b: 49. Type-species: Dimorphomyrmex janeti (junior synonym of Gesomyrmex chaperi), by monotypy.
 * Dimorphomyrmex junior synonym of Gesomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1929a: 1.
 * GAESOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Gesomyrmex]
 * Gaesomyrmex Dalla Torre, 1893: 175, unjustified emendation of Gesomyrmex.
 * Gaesomyrmex junior synonym of Gesomyrmex: Forel, 1893a: 167.

Dubovikov (2004) - The genus Gesomyrmex was established by G. Mayr (1868) for a single species from Baltic amber (Lower Oligocene). The four extant species (Gesomyrmex chaperi, Gesomyrmex howardi, Gesomyrmex kalshoveni and Gesomyrmex spatulatus) are known only from workers. Gesomyrmex luzonensis and Gesomyrmex tobiasi were described from lone queens.