''Anochetus ghilianii'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of ant of the subfamily Ponerinae, which is native to Morocco, and it also has a not confirmed status in Gibraltar and Spain, as scientists are not sure whether its native or exotic due having a very low area where it lives in the Iberian peninsula (Only found in the province of Cadiz in Spain). The species is

monogynous This is a glossary of terms used in the descriptions of ants. A B D E F G H M N O P Q R S T U W See also ...

, the queens of this species is

ergatoid An ergatoid (from Greek '' ergat-'', "worker" + ''-oid'', "like") is a permanently wingless reproductive adult ant or termite. The similar but somewhat ambiguous term ergatogyne refers to any intermediate form between workers and standard gynes. E ...

, meaning that it does not have wings. However, the males from the colony do have wings. The worker numbers can vary from having between 300 and 250 in early months of the year to just between 10 and 50 in the summer, thus the colonies are not very big and they are usually 20-30cm deep.

How to identify

This species is very easy to identify from other species, as there aren't other Ponerinae trap jaw ants species in Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula. Also, the other trap jaw ants in these countries are from the

Strumigenys ''Strumigenys'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Biology ''Strumigenys'' form small nests in soil, under or between rocks, or in and under logs or under cattle dung. Some species nest in association with other ants such as '' Bot ...

genus and have triangle heads instead of hexagonal heads. These things mean that it is impossible to confuse it for another species from those countries.

Defense and attack

Just like other

Anochetus ''Anochetus'' is a genus of small, carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world. This genus is present in both the Old and New World and is certainly native to all continents except Antarctica and Europe. In Europe o ...

and Odontomachus species, this species has both a stinger and its iconic mandibles which they use to defend themselves and get prey. The stinger is used to inject a toxin that paralyses its pray. The mandibles can be both used to bite and snap it against something to propel themselves backwards for a quick escape.

How to identify

Defense and attack

References

External links