Workerless
Guides
Anergates
Anergates is a genus of myrmicine ants containing the single species Anergates atratulus, an extreme workerless social parasite. The species lacks a worker caste and depends entirely on host colonies of Tetramorium ants for survival and reproduction. It is listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
Anergates atratulus
Anergates atratulus is an extreme workerless social parasite (inquiline) ant that lives exclusively within colonies of Tetramorium host species. It is one of the most specialized ant parasites known, lacking a worker caste entirely and producing only sexual forms (males and queens). The species is IUCN Red-Listed and considered rare across its European range.
Pheidole elecebra
Pheidole elecebra is an ant species endemic to the United States. It is a workerless inquiline, meaning it lives within the nests of another ant species without producing a worker caste of its own. The species is entirely dependent on its host, Pheidole ceres, for colony maintenance and survival.
Pseudomyrmex leptosus
Parasitic Twig Ant
Pseudomyrmex leptosus is a workerless social parasite in the genus Pseudomyrmex, first described by Ward in 1985. The species has completely lost its worker caste, a rare condition among ants. It is known from Florida in the United States. As an inquiline social parasite, it lives within the colonies of host ant species.