Stereomyrmex
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  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| 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.
Systematics
Stereomyrmex is probably the sister taxon to Romblonella. Closely related genera are Leptothorax and Cardiocondyla.[3]
Description
Stereomyrmex dispar is 3.2 mm long and black, with yellowish brown mandibles, antennae, legs and terminal segments of gaster. S. anderseni is only 2 mm long, has a very different petiolar and postpetiolar structure and is paler in color.[3]
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.
Species
- Stereomyrmex anderseni (Taylor, 1991) — King Edward River, Western Australia
- Stereomyrmex dispar (Wheeler, 1934) — Bellona, Solomon Islands
- Stereomyrmex horni Emery, 1901 — Sri Lanka
References
- Bolton, B. (2014). "Stereomyrmex". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- Australian Ants Online: Genus Stereomyrmex
- Taylor, Robert W. (1991). "Notes on the ant genera Romblonella and Willowsiella, with comments on their affinities, and the first descriptions of Australian species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)". Psyche. 97 (3–4): 281–298. doi:10.1155/1990/29514.
- Emery, Carlo (1901): Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1901: 113-122. PDF
- Wheeler, William M. (1934): Formicidae of the Templeton Crocker Expedition, 1933. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 21(4): 173-181. PDF
