The hitherto unknown worker caste of Anomalomyrma Taylor, 1990 is described for the first time. T... more The hitherto unknown worker caste of Anomalomyrma Taylor, 1990 is described for the first time. Two new species, Anomalomyrma boltoni n. sp. from Cameron Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia and Anomalomyrma helenae n. sp. from El Nido region of Palawan, Philippines, are described. In workers of both new species abdominal segments II and III (petiole and postpetiole) are rigidly fused together across both tergites and sternites. This is the first report of such fused abdominal morphology in worker Formicidae. Both new species lack a vertical lamella on the mandible, originally considered to be diagnostic for the genus and the main character separating Anomalomyrma from Protanilla Taylor, 1990. Modified generic diagnoses are proposed for both Anomalomyrma and Protanilla. Wing venation is described for the first time from an anomalomyrmine alate gyne, and prospects for the future of the nomenclature of the group's genera are discussed. A modified key to the genera of Leptanillinae is g...
We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for the field of ant taxonomy b... more We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for the field of ant taxonomy by using it to enhance the descriptions of two remarkable new species of the ant genus Terataner: T. balrog sp. n. and T. nymeria sp. n.. We provide an illustrated worker-based species identification key for all species found on Madagascar, as well as detailed taxonomic descriptions, which include diagnoses, discussions, measurements, natural history data, high-quality montage images and distribution maps for both new species. In addition to conventional morphological examination, we have used virtual reconstructions based on volumetric μCT scanning data for the species descriptions. We also include 3D PDFs, still images of virtual reconstructions, and 3D rotation videos for both holotype workers and one paratype queen. The complete μCT datasets have been made available online (Dryad, https://datadryad.org) and represent the first cybertypes in ants (and insects). We discuss the potential...
The northern paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Photo: G. Alpert. Paper wasps are social, stinging in... more The northern paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Photo: G. Alpert. Paper wasps are social, stinging insects that build open-comb nests. These nests are often observed on the protected undersides of natural or man-made overhangs. Soft-bodied insects, nectar and honeydew are important food sources for paper wasps. These insects can be a public health concern when they nest near human activity because of their potent sting.
This study reviews the taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 in the Afrotropical reg... more This study reviews the taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 in the Afrotropical region. Previous revisionary studies are discussed and four species groups are proposed on the basis of external morphology. The N. angulatus group contains seven species that are widely distributed throughout the whole Afrotropical region, with one species also occurring in the Palaearctic and Malagasy regions. The N. cataulacoides group is monotypic, with one morphologically bizarre species found in Equatorial rain forests. The N. humerosus group is also monotypic and occurs in East Africa. The last and by far most species-rich group is the N. simoni group that contains 17 species, all of which are endemic to South Africa. The four groups are defined for the first time for the region, and an illustrated identification key is provided. Furthermore, the N. angulatus group is more thoroughly reviewed. One new species from Mozambique is described, N. inhaca sp. nov., and species accounts for ...
The pattern of obligatory association between the Old World ant genus Metapone and termites is co... more The pattern of obligatory association between the Old World ant genus Metapone and termites is confirmed. Metapone vincimus, new species, is described based upon workers and a queen collected from northeastern Madagascar. Several nest series of M. vincimus were collected from within a log in association with the dry wood termite, Cryptotermes kirbyi (Kalotermitidae). An illustrated key is provided to separate the three species of Metapone known from Madagascar. A remarkable ergatoid male caste is noted for Metapone madagascarica.
ABSTRACT Eye-antennal discs of the temperature sensitive homeotic mutant aristapedia (ssa40a) in ... more ABSTRACT Eye-antennal discs of the temperature sensitive homeotic mutant aristapedia (ssa40a) in Drosophila melanogaster were isolated after the temperature sensitive period (TSP). After in vivo culture the eye disc can regenerate a new antennal disc, whereas the antennal disc duplicates after such a culture period.It has been found that the phenotype of the regenerated antenna (aristapedia or wild-type) depends entirely on the temperature during which regeneration is accomplished and is therefore independent of the original temperature sensitive period.A similar observation is made after duplication of the antennal disc. In these experiments the new or duplicated antenna expresses a phenotype dependent on the temperature of the in vivo culture.We conclude that regenerating and duplicating fragments pass a second temperature sensitive period.
The taxonomy of the genus Proceratium Roger is updated for the Afrotropical region. We give an ov... more The taxonomy of the genus Proceratium Roger is updated for the Afrotropical region. We give an overview of the genus in the region, provide an illustrated identification key to the three clades (Proceratiumarnoldi, Proceratiumstictum and Proceratiumtoschii clades) and revise the Proceratiumarnoldi clade. Four new species from the Proceratiumarnoldi clade are described as new: Proceratiumsokoke sp. n. from Kenya, Proceratiumcarri sp. n. from Mozambique, and Proceratiumnilo sp. n. and Proceratiumsali sp. n. from Tanzania. In order to integrate the new species into the existing taxonomic system we present an illustrated identification key to distinguish the seven Afrotropical species of the Proceratiumarnoldi clade. In addition, we provide accounts for all members of the Proceratiumarnoldi clade including detailed descriptions, diagnoses, taxonomic discussions, distribution data and high quality montage images.
Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerin... more Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerinae. We report here the discovery of gamergates in two species of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Until now, mated reproductive females in colonies of myrmicine species have been considered morphologically distinct from the worker caste. However, in two species of the myrmicine Metapone (Metapone madagascarica and a newly discovered, not yet described Metapone species) all workers have six ovarioles and a spermatheca; and some of them are mated. There are no morphological differences between mated and non-mated workers. Field observations and laboratory studies indicate that colonies of the Metapone species can reproduce with gamergates only.
The hitherto unknown worker caste of Anomalomyrma Taylor, 1990 is described for the first time. T... more The hitherto unknown worker caste of Anomalomyrma Taylor, 1990 is described for the first time. Two new species, Anomalomyrma boltoni n. sp. from Cameron Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia and Anomalomyrma helenae n. sp. from El Nido region of Palawan, Philippines, are described. In workers of both new species abdominal segments II and III (petiole and postpetiole) are rigidly fused together across both tergites and sternites. This is the first report of such fused abdominal morphology in worker Formicidae. Both new species lack a vertical lamella on the mandible, originally considered to be diagnostic for the genus and the main character separating Anomalomyrma from Protanilla Taylor, 1990. Modified generic diagnoses are proposed for both Anomalomyrma and Protanilla. Wing venation is described for the first time from an anomalomyrmine alate gyne, and prospects for the future of the nomenclature of the group's genera are discussed. A modified key to the genera of Leptanillinae is g...
We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for the field of ant taxonomy b... more We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for the field of ant taxonomy by using it to enhance the descriptions of two remarkable new species of the ant genus Terataner: T. balrog sp. n. and T. nymeria sp. n.. We provide an illustrated worker-based species identification key for all species found on Madagascar, as well as detailed taxonomic descriptions, which include diagnoses, discussions, measurements, natural history data, high-quality montage images and distribution maps for both new species. In addition to conventional morphological examination, we have used virtual reconstructions based on volumetric μCT scanning data for the species descriptions. We also include 3D PDFs, still images of virtual reconstructions, and 3D rotation videos for both holotype workers and one paratype queen. The complete μCT datasets have been made available online (Dryad, https://datadryad.org) and represent the first cybertypes in ants (and insects). We discuss the potential...
The northern paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Photo: G. Alpert. Paper wasps are social, stinging in... more The northern paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Photo: G. Alpert. Paper wasps are social, stinging insects that build open-comb nests. These nests are often observed on the protected undersides of natural or man-made overhangs. Soft-bodied insects, nectar and honeydew are important food sources for paper wasps. These insects can be a public health concern when they nest near human activity because of their potent sting.
This study reviews the taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 in the Afrotropical reg... more This study reviews the taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 in the Afrotropical region. Previous revisionary studies are discussed and four species groups are proposed on the basis of external morphology. The N. angulatus group contains seven species that are widely distributed throughout the whole Afrotropical region, with one species also occurring in the Palaearctic and Malagasy regions. The N. cataulacoides group is monotypic, with one morphologically bizarre species found in Equatorial rain forests. The N. humerosus group is also monotypic and occurs in East Africa. The last and by far most species-rich group is the N. simoni group that contains 17 species, all of which are endemic to South Africa. The four groups are defined for the first time for the region, and an illustrated identification key is provided. Furthermore, the N. angulatus group is more thoroughly reviewed. One new species from Mozambique is described, N. inhaca sp. nov., and species accounts for ...
The pattern of obligatory association between the Old World ant genus Metapone and termites is co... more The pattern of obligatory association between the Old World ant genus Metapone and termites is confirmed. Metapone vincimus, new species, is described based upon workers and a queen collected from northeastern Madagascar. Several nest series of M. vincimus were collected from within a log in association with the dry wood termite, Cryptotermes kirbyi (Kalotermitidae). An illustrated key is provided to separate the three species of Metapone known from Madagascar. A remarkable ergatoid male caste is noted for Metapone madagascarica.
ABSTRACT Eye-antennal discs of the temperature sensitive homeotic mutant aristapedia (ssa40a) in ... more ABSTRACT Eye-antennal discs of the temperature sensitive homeotic mutant aristapedia (ssa40a) in Drosophila melanogaster were isolated after the temperature sensitive period (TSP). After in vivo culture the eye disc can regenerate a new antennal disc, whereas the antennal disc duplicates after such a culture period.It has been found that the phenotype of the regenerated antenna (aristapedia or wild-type) depends entirely on the temperature during which regeneration is accomplished and is therefore independent of the original temperature sensitive period.A similar observation is made after duplication of the antennal disc. In these experiments the new or duplicated antenna expresses a phenotype dependent on the temperature of the in vivo culture.We conclude that regenerating and duplicating fragments pass a second temperature sensitive period.
The taxonomy of the genus Proceratium Roger is updated for the Afrotropical region. We give an ov... more The taxonomy of the genus Proceratium Roger is updated for the Afrotropical region. We give an overview of the genus in the region, provide an illustrated identification key to the three clades (Proceratiumarnoldi, Proceratiumstictum and Proceratiumtoschii clades) and revise the Proceratiumarnoldi clade. Four new species from the Proceratiumarnoldi clade are described as new: Proceratiumsokoke sp. n. from Kenya, Proceratiumcarri sp. n. from Mozambique, and Proceratiumnilo sp. n. and Proceratiumsali sp. n. from Tanzania. In order to integrate the new species into the existing taxonomic system we present an illustrated identification key to distinguish the seven Afrotropical species of the Proceratiumarnoldi clade. In addition, we provide accounts for all members of the Proceratiumarnoldi clade including detailed descriptions, diagnoses, taxonomic discussions, distribution data and high quality montage images.
Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerin... more Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerinae. We report here the discovery of gamergates in two species of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Until now, mated reproductive females in colonies of myrmicine species have been considered morphologically distinct from the worker caste. However, in two species of the myrmicine Metapone (Metapone madagascarica and a newly discovered, not yet described Metapone species) all workers have six ovarioles and a spermatheca; and some of them are mated. There are no morphological differences between mated and non-mated workers. Field observations and laboratory studies indicate that colonies of the Metapone species can reproduce with gamergates only.
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