Teratomyrmex

These rare ants are found only in Australia where they nest in rotten wood on the ground. While relatively common within their range, they are seldom encountered. Very little is known of their biology.

Identification
The propodeum has a single pair of spines. The pronotum is expanded towards the sides into wing-like projections.

Teratomyrmex, known from a single species (T. greavesi), is immediately recognisable by the unique wing-like expansion of the pronotum. No other Australian ant has this pronotal structure.

Castes


Worker of T. greavesi from Queensland.

Nomenclature

 *  TERATOMYRMEX [Formicinae: Lasiini]
 * Teratomyrmex McAreavey, 1957: 54. Type-species: Teratomyrmex greavesi, by original designation.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Shattuck, S.O. & O'Reilly, A.J. 2013. Revision of the Australian endemic ant genera Pseudonotoncus and Teratomyrmex (Hymenoptera Formicidae Formicinae). Zootaxa 3669, 287–301.pdf|Shattuck, S.O. & O'Reilly, A.J. 2013. Revision of the Australian endemic ant genera Pseudonotoncus and Teratomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Zootaxa 3669, 287–301.]]