Asphinctanilloides

Small hypogaeic blind ant predators with subterranean legionary habits. Their hypogaeic habits may, in concert with collecting techniques that have vastly undersampled ants with such a lifestyle, explain the paucity of information about these ants. Museum collections hold few specimens of these ants.

Identification
Similar to Leptanilloides but the continuous profile of the gaster segments, without constrictions, differentiates Asphinctanilloides from Leptanilloides.


 * Alitrunk flat without metanotal groove on dorsum; abdominal segments 5 and 6 (gaster segments 2 and 3) with a distinct, much narrower presclerite and wider postsclerite, resulting in constrictions between abdominal segments 4 and 5 (gaster segments I and 2), and 5 and 6 (gaster segments 2 and 3) . . . . . Leptanilloides
 * Alitrunk flat with a metanotal groove on the dorsum; abdominal segments 5 and 6 without separation into pre and postsclerites and thus without constrictions between abdominal segments 4 and 5, and 5 and 6 . . . . . Asphinctanilloides

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



Biology
Anecdotal observations suggest these ants ("Leptanilloidinae" species) behave as army-ant like predators. These ants are likely to be largely subterranean, occasionally coming to the ground surface under debri (rocks, downed wood, etc.) while foraging or to allow mature sexuals (either males only or perhaps males and females) to leave their natal nest. Group predation, frequent colony migrations and synchronized brood cycles may also be part of their life history.

Nomenclature

 *  ASPHINCTANILLOIDES [Leptanilloidinae]
 * Asphinctanilloides Brandão, Diniz, Agosti & Delabie, 1999: 30. Type-species: Asphinctanilloides anae, by original designation.

Alitrunk not as flat as Leptanilloides, but with a metasternal-propodeal suture visible at sides and a metanotal groove on dorsum of sclerite; propodeal dorsum subequal to declivity, the faces separated by an attenuate angle or continuous; petiole (2nd abdominal segment) as long as high; flange over the metapleural gland sharply pointed posteriorly; postpetiole reduced in size in relation to that of Leptanilloides, always shorter than petiole in lateral view; postpetiole spiracles situated at midlength of segment; gaster profile continuous, without constrictions between segments; spiracular plate median connection of sting apparatus with anterior region with 2 lobes; quadrate plate anterior apodema wider than plate itself; anal plate always triangular with about 25 microtrichia; furcula in shape of an inverted U and weakly sclerotized; lateral wing shaped projections developed.

Etymology
Asphinctus means without constrictions in Greek, referring to the continuous profile of the gaster.