Cardiocondyla
Cardiocondyla
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Formicoidea
- Family: Formicidae
- Subfamily: Myrmicinae
- Tribe: Crematogastrini
- Genus: Cardiocondyla
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cardiocondyla: //ˌkɑrdiːoʊˈkɒndɪlə//
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Images
Summary
Cardiocondyla is an Old World genus of ants that includes about 70 species, characterized by small size, male polymorphism, and unique outbreeding behaviors.
Physical Characteristics
Small ants with a striking male polymorphism, featuring both winged and wingless forms that differ in morphology and reproductive tactics.
Identification Tips
Inconspicuous nests in soil, often go unnoticed by most observers.
Habitat
Subtropical to tropical regions, primarily in the southern states of the US and in warm artificial environments in temperate regions.
Distribution
Approximately 70 species, most found in the Old World tropics and subtropics; some species occur in the temperate zone and have been introduced to North America and the Pacific Islands.
Life Cycle
Mating occurs during winter, and sexual females may leave the nest in spring to found colonies.
Reproduction
Worker ants transport young queen ants to alien nests to promote outbreeding, thus avoiding inbreeding depression.
Similar Taxa
- Leptothorax
- Stereomyrmex
- Romblonella
Misconceptions
These ants are often hard to detect unless actively searched for, leading to underestimations of their abundance.
Tags
- ants
- Myrmicinae
- Cardiocondyla
- polymorphism
- outbreeding