Diacamma

Castes
The genus Diacamma is characterized by a lack of morphological castes. All female individuals look like ordinary workers in other ants. When hatching, these specimens bear two thoracic appendages known as “gemmae”. They derive from wings. The gemmae of young specimens are regularly removed by other workers except for a few which retain the gemmae and are permitted to mate. These “mated workers” are called gamergates. They represent the functional queen caste in Diacamma.

Nomenclature

 *  DIACAMMA [Ponerinae: Ponerini]
 * Diacamma Mayr, 1862: 718. Type-species: Ponera rugosa, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 75.