''Colobopsis'' is a
genus of
ant in the subfamily
Formicinae. This genus was first described in 1861 by Mayr and contains 95 species. The type species is ''
Colobopsis truncata
''Colobopsis truncata'' is a species of ant and type species of the genus ''Colobopsis''. This species was first described in 1808 by M. Spinola, an Italian entomologist. The range of this species includes the South of Eastern Europe, Central E ...
''.
Description
As part of
Camponotini, ''Colobopsis'' workers have distinctive
mandibular dentition (5-8 teeth with the 3rd tooth from the apex not being reduced),
antennae 12-segmented and antennal separations well separated from the posterior
clypeal margin.
''Colobopsis'' workers are dimorphic, being divided into major workers and minor workers. The major workers generally have
phragmotic heads that are truncate to varying extents. This may cause them to be confused for ''
Camponotus'' and vice versa, since some ''Camponotus'' also have phragmotic heads.
of ''Colobopsis'' are always naked. This is unlike pupae of ''Camponotus'', which are enclosed in cocoons.
Phylogeny
For a period of time, ''Colobopsis'' was considered a subgenus of ''Camponotus''. A 2015
phylogenomic study found it to be the
sister group
In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree.
Definition
The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram:
Taxon A and t ...
to all the remaining Camponotini.
Consequently, ''Colobopsis'' has been treated as its own genus again.
Species
Selected species:
*''
Colobopsis abdita
''Colobopsis abdita'' (synonym ''Camponotus abditus'') is a species of carpenter ant endemic to Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It ...
''
*''
Colobopsis anderseni
''Colobopsis anderseni'', synonym ''Camponotus anderseni'', is a species of mangrove ant found in northern Australia.
Taxonomy
The species was originally placed in the ant genus '' Camponotus'' when described in 2001 as ''Camponotus (Colobopsis ...
''
*''
Colobopsis ceylonica
''Colobopsis ceylonica'' is a species of formicine ant. It is found from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerl ...
''
*''
Colobopsis explodens
''Colobopsis explodens'' (suicidal attack ants) is a species of ant
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestor ...
''
*''
Colobopsis saundersi
''Colobopsis saundersi'', synonym ''Camponotus saundersi'', is a species of ant found in Malaysia and Brunei, belonging to the genus ''Colobopsis''. A worker can explode suicidally and aggressively as an ultimate act of defense, an ability it has ...
''
*''
Colobopsis schmitzi
''Colobopsis schmitzi'', synonym ''Camponotus schmitzi'', is a species of ant native to Borneo, Schuitemaker, J.P. & A. Stärcke 1933. ''Overdruk uit het Natuurhistorisch Maandblad'' 22(3): 29–31. which is commonly known as the diving ant, swi ...
''
*''
Colobopsis truncata
''Colobopsis truncata'' is a species of ant and type species of the genus ''Colobopsis''. This species was first described in 1808 by M. Spinola, an Italian entomologist. The range of this species includes the South of Eastern Europe, Central E ...
''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q9815577
Formicinae
Ant genera