Carton-nests
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Dolichoderus
Dolichoderus is a genus of ants comprising 181 valid species (131 extant, 50 extinct), representing the sole member of tribe Dolichoderini and type genus of subfamily Dolichoderinae. Workers are small (approximately 4 mm), possess a thick sculptured integument, and lack a functional sting. The genus exhibits remarkable ecological diversity: most species are generalist honeydew collectors that tend aphids and scale insects, while the D. cuspidatus group in Southeast Asia practices unique nomadic aphid farming with obligate mutualist mealybugs. The genus has an extensive fossil record in Baltic amber.