!

Exciting new taxa found in

Borneo!!!

Subfamily: Myrmecolinae

• Cosmopolitan distribution

• Mutualistic relationship with other ant taxa

• Large range of size and sculpturing

• Cryptic species often found in labs and/or rotten logs

Taxonomic key

• 1. Female . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

• Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

• 2(1). Integument characterized by ornate coloration . . . . . . . . . . Corrielus

• No ornate coloration. Keystone species vital for biodiversity . . . . . Nyleannedaeria

Corrielus sp.• Native range:

Louisiana• Paired setae often

found projecting from either side of the head

• Bucchal region arched into smile like structure

• Often heard before observed

• 2(1). Integument characterized by ornate coloration . . . . . . . . . . .Corrielus

• No ornate coloration . Keystone species for

biodiversity ….Nyleannedaeria

Nyleannederia sp.

• Rapid movement across diverse habitats

• Meticulous grooming habits

• Often found on and around leaf litter

• Ferociously protective of sifting equipment and detritus

• 1. Female . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

• Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

• 3(1). English not used as primary form of communication. . . . . . . . . 4

• English used as primary form of communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

• 4(3) Often emitting small clouds of defensive smoke. . . . . .Hashiomyrma

• Does not emit smoke . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Hashiomryma sp.

• Often seen with white spongiform tissue on pronotal margin

• Slender in appearance

• Characteristic vocalizations

• 4(3) Often emitting small clouds of defensive smoke. . . . . . .Hashiomyrma

• Does not emit smoke . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

• 5(4). Elongate limbs and vertical strip of white setae along base of mandibles. . . . . . . . . . .Ishachristianis

• Dark pilosity on occipital margin

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Technoelmyrmex

Ishachristianis sp.• Intense

fascination with reproduction (French??)

• Deeply cryptic; little is known about life history

• Close symbiosis with Ambrianopone species in Madagascar

• 5(4). Elongate limbs and vertical strip of white setae along base of mandibles

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ishachristianis

• Dark pilosity on occipital margin• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Technoelmyrmex

Technoelmyrmex sp.• Highly altruistic

behavior• Well established

Bornean distribution

• Very adept at finding wealth of local resources

• Extensive foraging for colony nutrients (primarily tea and biscuits)

• 3(1). English not used as primary form of communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

• English used as primary form of communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

• 6(3) Rugose integument lacking. Behavior indistinguishable from larval stage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

• Rugose integument. All taxa characterized by presence of distinguished silver pilosity. . . . . . .8

• 7(6) Large circular spatulate disc emerging from front tarsi. Seen active nocturnally and diurnally. Cohabitates with Gnandygenys . . . . . . . . Chimerachris

• Such disc absent from tarsi; In a state of torpor for most of the day. Cohabitates with Chimerachris . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gnandygenys

Chimerachris sp.• Mandibles

positioned in permanent scowl

• Aversion to leech socks (too cool for school).

• High tolerance for ethanol. Collection: ineffective.

• 7(6) Large circular spatulate disc emerging from front tarsi. Seen active nocturnally and diurnally Cohabitates with Gnandygenys . . . . . . Chimerachris

• Such disc absent from tarsi; In a state of torpor for most of the day. Cohabitates with Chimerachris . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gnandygenys

Gnandygenys sp.• Close

association with trap jaw ants

• Tibia similar to Simonopsis

• Metallic projections found on lateral head-lobes

• Nip slips

• 6(3) Rugose integument lacking. Behavior indistinguishable from larval stage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

• Rugose integument. All taxa characterized by presence of distinguished silver pilosity . . . . . . .8

• 8(6). Pilosity absent from clypeus and bucchal region. . . . . . .. . . . . . . 9

• Obvious “salt and pepper” pilosity covering clypeus and mandibles . . . . 11

• 9(8) Mesosoma ornamented with hibiscus flowers. . . . . . . Simonopsis

• Would never dress like that. . . . . . . . 10

Simonopsis sp.• Australian

distribution

• Polyrhachis groupie

• First ant cosmonaut

• Jovial red pigment between eyes and mandibles

• Fond of hair cuts and massages

• 9(8) Mesosoma ornamented with hibiscus flowers. . . . . . . . . . Simonopsis

• Would never dress like that.. . . . . . 10

• 10(9) Similar to Crejackogaster but recognized by erratic

mischievousness . . . . . . Rhowaltermastix

• Well mannered, tough as nails. Specimens never seem to be as clean as Rhowaltermastix . . . . . . Crejackogaster

Rhowaltermastix sp.

• High pheromone levels

• Chiseled . . . everywhere

• Subterranean

• Employs impossibly low tech solutions

• 10(9) Similar to Crejackogaster but recognized by erratic

mischievousness . . . . . . . . Rhowaltermastix

• Well mannered, tough as nails. Specimens never seem to be as clean as Rhowaltermastix . . . . . . Crejackogaster

Crejackogaster sp.

• Neotropical distribution

• Abundant pouches affixed to ventral surface

• Nests in clay banks, hammocks, and every terrain known to ants

• Cool as a cucumber

• 8(6). Pilosity absent from clypeus and bucchal region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

• Obvious “salt and pepper” pilosity covering clypeus and mandibles . . . 11

• 11(8) Distinctly shining blue ommatidia. Dense setae forming beard is > 2X head length . … . . . . . Pogonostevex

• Setae forming beard distinctly shorter, Poor eyesight (most likely subterranean) . . . . . . . . . . 12

Pogonostevex sp.• Australian/U.S.

distribution• Several orders of

magnitude quieter than Corrielus species

• Attached light capturing appendage used in presence of other ant specimens

• Invincible

• 11(8) Distinctly shining blue ommatidia. Dense setae forming beard is > 2X head length . . . . . . . . . Pogonostevex

• Setae forming beard distinctly shorter, Poor eyesight (most likely subterranean) . . . . . . . . . . 12

• 12(11) Total length significantly > 5 feet. Occipital margin completely covered with setae . . . . . . . .Phildole

• Total length < 5 feet. Occipital margin with ring of setae. Very destructive with a machete . . . . . . . . . . Ambrianopone

Phildole sp.• Has a gaster?

Maybe not. It’s ambiguous.

• Attracted to baits of Marmite

• Resposible for genesis of Ambrianopone and many other Myrmecolinae species

• Dreamy

• 12(11) Total length significantly > 5 feet. Occipital margin completely covered with setae . . . . . . . . . . . .Phildole

• Total length < 5 feet. Occipital margin with ring of setae. Very destructive with a machete . . . . . . . . . Ambrianopone

Ambrianopone sp.• Primarily

Malagasy distribution

• Highly adapted organizational skills

• Narcoleptic lapses induced by vocal stimuli

• Repelled by garlic and onion

• Everyone’s favorite ant!

In all seriousness....Thanks!

On behalf of all of the students of Ant Course 2010, we would like to sincerely

thank the instructors and especially Brian for this opportunity and for all your

help, guidance and inspiration.