Polyergus mexicanus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Polyergus mexicanus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Polyergus mexicanus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Genus: | Polyergus |
| Species: | P. mexicanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyergus mexicanus | |
Polyergus mexicanus is a species of slave-making ant in the subfamily Formicinae. It is the most widely distributed species of Polyergus in North America. It is an obligatory social parasite, unable to feed itself or look after the colony and reliant on ants of another species, Formica, to undertake these tasks. The parasitic ants are known as "dulotics" (from the Greek δοῦλος doulos, meaning a slave) and the ants they parasitise are known as "hosts".
In a revision of the genus Polyergus in 2013, Trager reinstated five species previously thought to be synonymous with Polyergus breviceps.[2] P. mexicanus was one of these, a widely distributed species found in western North American and originally described by the Swiss myrmecologist Auguste Forel in 1899, the type locality being Mexico. It is likely that most species mentioned in scientific journals as P. breviceps are in fact P. mexicanus.[1]
Description
Polyergus mexicanus is somewhat variable across its range and averages 6 millimetres (0.24 in) in total length. The head is glossy in the south of its range and more matte in eastern and northern populations. The mesonotum is matte dorsally and usually shining laterally. The gaster is also shining but this is partially concealed by a covering of short erect hairs, especially dorsally. The colour is generally red with the posterior portion of the tergites being tinged with brown. The legs may be a slightly darker colour than the body, and the hairs on the dorsal surface are grey, never yellowish as they are in P. breviceps. This species also bears longer brownish macrosetae (hairs) but they often get worn away, leaving dark scars on the tergites.[1]