Plagiolepis

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - A moderate sized genus with 57 valid species (Bolton, 2012). These ants are restricted to the tropical and temperate regions of the Old World (Robertson, 2000). No modern revision or a key to species exist, which is a serious obstacle for the identification of Plagiolepis species. Very little is known about their biology; they are small formicines nesting on trees, rotten wood, twigs, or in the soil (Bolton, 1973a).

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



Biology
These ants are easily overlooked owing to the number of minute and similarly coloured species of Iridomyrmex, Tapinoma, Bothriomyrmex or Nylanderia encountered almost everywhere in the Australian bush. (Wheeler 1934)

Nomenclature

 *  PLAGIOLEPIS [Formicinae: Plagiolepidini]
 * Plagiolepis Mayr, 1861: 42. Type-species: Formica pygmaea, by monotypy.
 * Plagiolepis senior synonym of Aporomyrmex, Paraplagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
 * Plagiolepis senior synonym of †Rhopalomyrmex: Dlussky, 1997: 59.
 * Plagiolepis senior synonym of Anacantholepis: Bolton, 2003: 105, 268.
 * ANACANTHOLEPIS [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
 * Anacantholepis Santschi, 1914e: 36 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Plagiolepis (Anacantholepis) decora, by original designation.
 * Anacantholepis raised to genus: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 212.
 * Anacantholepis junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 2003: 105, 268.
 * APOROMYRMEX [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
 * Aporomyrmex Faber, 1969: 52. Type-species: Aporomyrmex ampeloni, by original designation.
 * Aporomyrmex junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
 * PARAPLAGIOLEPIS [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
 * Paraplagiolepis Faber, 1969: 65 [as subgenus of Plagiolepis]. Type-species: Plagiolepis xene, by monotypy.
 * Paraplagiolepis junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Bolton, 1994: 51.
 * †RHOPALOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Plagiolepis]
 * †Rhopalomyrmex Mayr, 1868c: 41. Type-species: †Rhopalomyrmex pygmaeus, by monotypy.
 * †Rhopalomyrmex junior synonym of Plagiolepis: Dlussky, 1997: 59.