Stereomyrmex
Genus of ants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stereomyrmex is a genus of myrmicine ants. Two of the described species are known from only a single worker, making this one of the rarest groups of ants in the world.[2]
| Stereomyrmex | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stereomyrmex horni worker | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Alliance: | Podomyrma genus group |
| Genus: | Stereomyrmex Emery, 1901 |
| Type species | |
| Stereomyrmex horni Emery, 1901 | |
| Diversity[1] | |
| 3 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Willowsiella Wheeler, 1934 | |
Biology
The single specimen of S. anderseni was caught in a pitfall trap, and nothing is known about its biology.[citation needed]
Systematics
Stereomyrmex is probably the sister taxon to Romblonella. Closely related genera are Leptothorax and Cardiocondyla.[3]
Description
Distribution
Stereomyrmex dispar has been described from a single worker, taken in 1933 on Bellona Island, Solomon Islands; no other specimen has since been found, and it is unlikely that the species is truly endemic to Bellona. S. anderseni is known from a single worker as well.[3] S. horni was collected under rocks in Sri Lanka.[4]
Names
The genus was originally named in honor of Maurice Willows Jr., who collected the type specimen of S. dispar.[5] S. anderseni was collected by A.N. Andersen. S. horni was collected by W. Horn.[citation needed]
Species
- Stereomyrmex anderseni (Taylor, 1991) — King Edward River, Western Australia
- Stereomyrmex dispar (Wheeler, 1934) — Bellona, Solomon Islands
- Stereomyrmex horni Emery, 1901 — Sri Lanka
