''Simopelta'' is a
Neotropical genus of
ants 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 ...
Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slender, small in size (2.1–4.9 mm), and black to orange in color. Queens are dichthadiiform (wingless and with enlarged
gasters) and "
morphologically simplified" relative to workers. Males remain unknown.
Species have an
army-ant life style, including group predation and nomadism. However, belonging to the
tribe Ponerini
Ponerini is a tribe of Ponerinae ants with 46 genera and 6 extinct genera.
Genera
*''Anochetus''
*†'' Archiponera''
*''Asphinctopone''
*''Austroponera''
*''Belonopelta''
*''Boloponera''
*''Bothroponera''
*''Brachyponera''
*''Buniapone ...
, they are evidently ponerines and the army-ant like characters are deemed to have evolved through
convergent evolution. Compared to other ponerines, colonies are large, consisting of 1,000 to 2,000 individuals.
Species
*''
Simopelta andersoni''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta bicolor''
Borgmeier, 1950
*''
Simopelta breviscapa
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta curvata''
(Mayr, 1887)
*''
Simopelta fernandezi''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta jeckylli''
(Mann, 1916)
*''
Simopelta laevigata''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta laticeps
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
Gotwald & Brown, 1967
*''
Simopelta longinoda
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta longirostris
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta manni
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
Wheeler, 1935
*''
Simopelta mayri
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta minima
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
(Brandao, 1989)
*''
Simopelta oculata
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
Gotwald & Brown, 1967
*''
Simopelta paeminosa
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
Snelling, 1971
*''
Simopelta pentadentata
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
*''
Simopelta pergandei
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
(Forel, 1909)
*''
Simopelta quadridentata
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slender, ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta transversa''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta vieirai''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta williamsi''
Wheeler, 1935
References
External links
*
Ponerinae
Ant genera
Hymenoptera of South America
{{Ponerinae-stub