Acromyrmex echinatior

Acromyrmex echinatior is a host species of the social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.

Biology
Nehring et al. (2015) - This species and the sympatric Acromyrmex octospinosus are both parasitized by Acromyrmex insinuator but the parasitic queens are only able to successfully reproduce in A. echinatior nests.

Genetics
Acromyrmex echinatior has had their entire genome sequenced.

Palomeque et al. (2015) found class II mariner elements, a form of transposable elements, in the genome of this ant.

Nomenclature

 *  echinatior. Atta (Acromyrmex) octospinosa var. echinatior Forel, 1899c: 34 (w.q.) MEXICO. Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 72 (m.). Combination in Acromyrmex: Emery, 1924d: 350. Subspecies of octospinosus: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 71. Raised to species: Schultz, Bekkevold & Boomsma, 1998: 460.