15 Feb 2014

Ants of Singapore #12 - Echinopla (lineata)

Echinopla

Species accounts


Echinopla lineata Mayr 1872


Kent Ridge, Singapore, 2014

8 Feb 2014

Ants of Singapore #11 - Polyrhachis (cf. tubifex)

Polyrhachis

Species accounts


Polyrhachis cf. tubifex 





Polyrhachis cf. tubifex nest with alate.
Larvae with cocoon.
Lives in bamboo culms.

Worker with alate. Worker biting on the alate wings.

Alate in the nest.

A view of the alate. 

Worker carrying larvae.

Further reading:
- http://ripley.si.edu/ent/nmnhtypedb/images/pdfs/12311.pdf
- http://ripley.si.edu/ent/nmnhtypedb/images/pdfs/14656.pdf

27 Jan 2014

Ants of Singapore #10 - Amblyopone (reclinata)

Amblyopone

Species accounts


Amblyopone reclinata Mayr, 1879


Distribution: Luzon


Saw these really cool Amblyopone cf reclinata ants. They belong to the subfamily Amblyoponinae. Check out those mean jaws. 

These ants belong to a group of "Dracula ants".

Ants of the genus Amblyopone has "footprint gland" which is used in recruitment via secretion of a pheromone [1]. This allows for quick recruitment [2].




14 Jan 2014

Ants of Singapore #09 - Gnamptogenys (costatus)

Gnamptogenys

Species accounts


Gnamptogenys costatus (Emery 1889)


Type locality: Myanmar
Distribution: Burma, Philippines (Mindanao), Borneo, Sumatra, West Malaysia, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sulawesi, Sumatra, Java), Singapore, Thailand

Gnamptogenys costatus


Gnamptogenys costatus is a species that nests in dead logs.