Myrmecocystus is a North American genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. It is one of five genera that includes honeypot ants. Worker ants keep and tend plerergates, which are other ants that store large quantities of nutritious fluid in their abdomens to feed the colony during famine times. Some species engage in highly territorial tournaments, which can result in intraspecific slavery. During the raids, they carry off larvae, workers, and plerergates. The genus has three subgenera, namely Myrmecocystus, Endiodioctes, and Eremnocystus.
Species
- Subgenus Myrmecosystus
- Myrmecocystus christineae <small>Snelling, 1982</small>
- Myrmecocystus ewarti <small>Snelling, 1971</small>
- Myrmecocystus melanoticus <small>Wheeler, 1914</small>
- Myrmecocystus mexicanus <small>Wesmael, 1838</small>
- Myrmecocystus navajo <small>Wheeler, 1908</small>
- Myrmecocystus pyramicus <small>Smith, 1951</small>
- Myrmecocystus testaceus <small>Emery, 1893</small>
- Subgenus Endiodioctes
- Myrmecocystus baja <small>Sankey-Alamilla et al., 2024</small>
- Myrmecocystus depilis <small>Forel, 1901</small>
- Myrmecocystus flaviceps <small>Wheeler, 1912</small>
- Myrmecocystus intonsus <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus kathjuli <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus kennedyi <small>Snelling, 1969</small>
- Myrmecocystus koso <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus melliger <small>Forel, 1886</small>
- Myrmecocystus mendax <small>Wheeler, 1908</small>
- Myrmecocystus mimicus <small>Wheeler, 1908</small>
- Myrmecocystus nequazcatl <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus placodops <small>Forel, 1908</small>
- Myrmecocystus romainei <small>Hunt & Snelling, 1975</small>
- Myrmecocystus semirufus <small>Emery, 1893</small>
- Myrmecocystus wheeleri <small>Snelling, 1971</small>
- Subgenus Eremnocystus
- Myrmecocystus arenarius <small>Snelling, 1982</small>
- Myrmecocystus colei <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus creightoni <small>Snelling, 1971</small>
- Myrmecocystus hammettensis <small>Cole, 1938</small>
- Myrmecocystus lugubris <small>Wheeler, 1909</small>
- Myrmecocystus perimeces <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus snellingi <small>Bolton, 1995</small>
- Myrmecocystus tenuinodis <small>Snelling, 1976</small>
- Myrmecocystus yuma <small>Wheeler, 1912</small>
Media
Notes
References
External links