Crematogaster schimmeri

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Taiwan.

Castes
In this and other species belonging to the subgenus Orthocrema, a third caste exists that is intermediate in size, weight and morphology between winged queens and workers. These individuals are numerically few in the colonies, and lay many unfertilized eggs that are mostly eaten by larvae. Histology confirmed the lack of a spermatheca, hence sexual reproduction is impossible. Using scanning electron microscopy and ovarian dissections, Peeters et al. (2013) showed that this third caste is a patchwork of queen-like and worker-like traits. It is a soldier caste with a specialized trophic function.

Nomenclature

 *  schimmeri. Crematogaster schimmeri Forel, 1912a: 69 (w.q.) TAIWAN. Combination in C. (Decacrema): Emery, 1922e: 132; in C. (Orthocrema): Hosoishi & Ogata, 2010: 2..

Additional References

 * [[Media:Hosoishi-ogata-2010.pdf|Hosoishi, S. & Ogata, K. 2010. On the identity of Crematogaster schimmeri Forel, 1912 and the distribution of subgenus Decacrema in Asia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Asian Myrmecology 3:1-3. PDF]]
 * [[Media:Peeters etal. ASD2013 Orthocrema.pdf|PEETERS, C., LIN, C.-C., QUINET, Y., MARTINS SEGUNDO, G. & BILLEN, J. 2013: Evolution of a soldier caste specialized to lay unfertilized eggs in Crematogaster ants (subgenus Orthocrema). Arthropod Structure & Development 42: 257-264. PDF]]