Aneuretus

Aneuretus simoni is the only species of Aneuretus and is the only extant member of the subfamily Aneuretinae. Long believed to be a basal lineages of Formicidae, molecular phylogenetics have shown the group is closely related to the Dolichoderinae (see the subfamily phylogeny).

Identification
Sting (that may not be visible), single petiole with a long, narrow anterior peduncle, propodeum armed with a pair of spines. Major tibial spur of hind leg simple or with a few minute barbules. Palp forumula 3,4. Only known from Sri Lanka.

In the field workers resemble small yellow Pheidole minors in their morphology. Behaviorally they have a tendency to keep their long petiole folded up against their propodeum with their gaster slightly elevated.

Distribution
Endemic to Sri Lanka.

Biology
See the Aneuretus simoni page for information about the biology of this genus.

Castes
The single extant species of the genus has dimorphic workers.

Nomenclature

 *  ANEURETUS [Aneuretinae]
 * Aneuretus Emery, 1893a: cclxxv. Type-species: Aneuretus simoni, by monotypy.
 * [Aneuretus also described as new by Emery, 1893f: 241.]

Additional References
See the Aneuretus simoni page for additional references.

Emery, C. 1893a. [Untitled. Introduced by: "M. C. Emery, de Bologne, envoie les diagnoses de cinq nouveaux genres de Formicides".]. Bulletin Bimensuel de la Société Entomologique de France 1892:cclxxv-cclxxvii.

Jayasuriya, A. K. and J. F. A. Traniello. 1986. The biology of the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni (Emery) (Formicidae: Aneuretinae). I. Distribution, abundance, colony structure, and foraging ecology. Insectes Sociaux. 32:363-374.

Wilson, E. O., T. Eisner, G. C. Wheeler, and J. Wheeler. 1956. Aneuretus simoni Emery, a major link in ant evolution. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 115:81-99.