''Oxyepoecus'' is a
Neotropical genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
ant in the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...
. The genus is a member of the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
Solenopsidini and currently includes 20 species.
Distribution
The genus of is known from the Neotropics, from
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
to
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, where it is collected infrequently.
Identification
''Oxyepoecus'' is differentiated from other Solenopsidini by the 11-segmented
antennae with a three-segmented apical club, the
clypeus with four teeth, and the dentate
propodeum
The propodeum or propodium is the first abdominal segment in Apocrita Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants). It is fused with the thorax to form the mesosoma. It is a single large sclerite, not subdivided, and bears a pair of spiracles. It is strongl ...
. In addition, the
petiole and postpetiole nodes are high and often anteroposteriorly compressed.
Biology
The biology of the genus is poorly known, but three species (''
O. inquilinus'', ''
O. daguerrei'', and ''
O. bruchi'') are suspected to be
inquilines of ''
Pheidole
''Pheidole'' is a genus of ants that belongs to the ant subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is widespread and ecologically dominant. It probably includes more than 1000 species. The genus first evolved in the Americas, eventually spreading across th ...
'' or ''
Solenopsis'', although the exact nature of the relationship is unclear. These three species are considered as "
Vulnerable D2" by
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
, meaning they are suspected to be "facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future" because "their populations are characterized by an acute restriction in their area of occupancy (typically less than 100 km
2) or in the number of locations (typically fewer than five)."
Species
*''
Oxyepoecus bidentatus''
Delsinne & Mackay, 2011
*''
Oxyepoecus browni
''Oxyepoecus'' is a Neotropical genus of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is a member of the tribe Solenopsidini and currently includes 20 species.
Distribution
The genus of is known from the Neotropics, from Colombia to Chile, whe ...
''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004
*''
Oxyepoecus bruchi
''Oxyepoecus bruchi'' is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is Endemism, endemic to Argentina.
References
External links
*
Myrmicinae
Endemic fauna of Argentina
Hymenoptera of South America
Insects described in 1926
Taxon ...
''
Santschi, 1926
*''
Oxyepoecus crassinodus''
Kempf, 1974
*''
Oxyepoecus daguerrei''
(Santschi, 1933)
*''
Oxyepoecus ephippiatus''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004
*''
Oxyepoecus inquilinus''
(Kusnezov, 1952)
*''
Oxyepoecus kempfi
''Oxyepoecus'' is a Neotropical genus of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is a member of the tribe Solenopsidini and currently includes 20 species.
Distribution
The genus of is known from the Neotropics, from Colombia to Chile, whe ...
''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004
*''
Oxyepoecus longicephalus
''Oxyepoecus'' is a Neotropical genus of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is a member of the tribe Solenopsidini and currently includes 20 species.
Distribution
The genus of is known from the Neotropics, from Colombia to Chile, whe ...
''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004
*''
Oxyepoecus mandibularis''
(Emery, 1913)
*''
Oxyepoecus myops''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2009
*''
Oxyepoecus plaumanni''
Kempf, 1974
*''
Oxyepoecus punctifrons''
(Borgmeier, 1927)
*''
Oxyepoecus quadratus''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004
*''
Oxyepoecus rastratus''
(Mayr, 1887)
*''
Oxyepoecus reticulatus''
Kempf, 1974
*''
Oxyepoecus rosai''
Albuquerque & Brandão, 2009
*''
Oxyepoecus striatus''
Mackay & Delsinne, 2011
*''
Oxyepoecus vezenyii''
(Forel, 1907)
*''
Oxyepoecus vivax''
Kempf, 1974
Oxyepoecus rastratus casent0178099 profile 1.jpg, Oxyepoecus rastratus
Oxyepoecus inquilinus casent0006160 profile 1.jpg, Oxyepoecus inquilinus
Oxyepoecus reticulatus casent0178101 profile 1.jpg, Oxyepoecus reticulatus
Oxyepoecus vezenyii casent0178102 profile 1.jpg, Oxyepoecus vezenyii
References
*
External links
*
Myrmicinae
Ant genera
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{myrmicinae-stub