Centromyrmex

Centromyrmex is a pantropical, though mainly Afrotropical, genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae. This ponerine ant was recorded for the first time in French Guiana and the most northerly point of recording was in Costa Rica. The specimens reported here were collected in a region of Amazon Forest with flight interception traps.[2]

Centromyrmex
Centromyrmex alfaroi worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Family:
Formicidae
Subfamily:
Ponerinae
Tribe:
Ponerini
Genus:
Centromyrmex

Mayr, 1866
Type species
Centromyrmex bohemanni
Diversity[1]
15 species
Synonyms

Glyphopone Forel, 1913
Leptopone Arnold, 1916
Spalacomyrmex Emery, 1889
Typhloteras Karavaiev, 1925

Biology

They are predatory on termites, where a group hunting strategy may be employed,[3] or may prey more generally on invertebrates in the upper soil layer of forests.[4] Little is known about their biology, but workers lack eyes and are well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle by way of burrowing. They also are equipped with short, spiny, and powerful legs. Nest sites are usually found near or even inside of termite nests. [4]

Species

References
  1. Bolton, B. (2014). "Centromyrmex". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. "Web of Science - Starting New Session".
  3. Dejean, A.; Fénéron, R. (20 September 1999). "Predatory behaviour in the ponerine ant, Centromyrmex bequaerti: a case of termitolesty". Behavioural Processes. 47 (2): 125–133. doi:10.1016/S0376-6357(99)00060-1. PMID 24896935. S2CID 24951981.
  4. Schmidt, C. A; Shattuck, S. O. (2014). "The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior". Zootaxa. 3817 (1): 1–242. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1. PMID 24943802.


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