Lasius arizonicus
Wheeler, 1917
Arizona Citronella Ant
Lasius arizonicus is a of in the Lasius, described by William Morton Wheeler in 1917. It is to the United States, with records from Arizona. The species belongs to a genus commonly known as citronella ants due to the lemony scent produced by defensive secretions. Like other Lasius species, it likely produces citronellal and formic acid as chemical defenses.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lasius arizonicus: //ˈleɪsi.əs ˌærɪˈzɒnɪkəs//
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Images
Distribution
to the United States, specifically recorded from Arizona.
Host Associations
- Lasius - Formerly placed in subgenus Acanthomyops, now included in Lasius lato.
Similar Taxa
- Lasius alienusClosely related ; L. americanus (sometimes applied to North ) has been synonymized with L. alienus but may represent distinct species upon revision.
- Other Lasius speciesShares -level traits including citronella-like defensive secretions and general , but specific distinguishing features for L. arizonicus are not documented in available sources.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Originally described in 1917 by Wheeler. Formerly classified in the subgenus Acanthomyops, which is now treated as part of Lasius.
Etymology
Specific epithet 'arizonicus' refers to Arizona, the locality.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- The Ants and Butterflies of Gates Canyon: Quite the Ecosystem | Bug Squad
- From the Bug of the Week mailbag, termites or ants? Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes, or Citronella ants, Lasius sp. — Bug of the Week
- Curious isolation: new butterfly species discovered | Blog
- Alternative host-searching strategy in Ghilaromma orientalis
- pleasing fungus beetles | Beetles In The Bush
- North America’s itsiest bitsiest longhorned beetle | Beetles In The Bush