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 Aneuretus simoni, the only extant species, for information about the biology of this genus.

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

Worker Morphology
These characters are collated in the Worker Morphology table.

Nomenclature

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