Temnothorax algerianus

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Algeria, Morocco.

Biology
Temnothorax algerianus is a slavemaking 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.



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.

Nomenclature

 *  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.