Acromyrmex niger

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Acromyrmex niger
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Acromyrmex
Species: A. niger
Binomial name
Acromyrmex niger
(Smith, F., 1858)

Acromyrmex niger casent0173799 profile 1.jpg

Acromyrmex niger casent0173799 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms

Identification

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -2.2171° to -30.28333333°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina, Brazil (type locality), Paraguay.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Explore-icon.png Explore Fungus Growing 
For additional details see Fungus growing ants.

A handful of ant species (approx. 275 out of the known 15,000 species) have developed the ability to cultivate fungus within their nests. In most species the fungus is used as the sole food source for the larvae and is an important resource for the adults as well. Additionally, in a limited number of cases, the fungus is used to construct part of the nest structure but is not as a food source.

These fungus-feeding species are limited to North and South America, extending from the pine barrens of New Jersey, United States, in the north (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) to the cold deserts in Argentina in the south (several species of Acromyrmex). Species that use fungi in nest construction are known from Europe and Africa (a few species in the genera Crematogaster, Lasius).


The details of fungal cultivation are rich and complex. First, a wide variety of materials are used as substrate for fungus cultivating. The so-called lower genera include species that prefer dead vegetation, seeds, flowers, fruits, insect corpses, and feces, which are collected in the vicinity of their nests. The higher genera include non leaf-cutting species that collect mostly fallen leaflets, fruit, and flowers, as well as the leafcutters that collect fresh leaves from shrubs and trees. Second, while the majority of fungi that are farmed by fungus-feeding ants belong to the family Lepiotaceae, mostly the genera Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus, other fungi are also involved. Some species utilise fungi in the family Tricholomataceae while a few others cultivate yeast. The fungi used by the higher genera no longer produce spores. Their fungi produce nutritious and swollen hyphal tips (gongylidia) that grow in bundles called staphylae, to specifically feed the ants. Finally, colony size varies tremendously among these ants. Lower taxa mostly live in inconspicuous nests with 100–1000 individuals and relatively small fungus gardens. Higher taxa, in contrast, live in colonies made of 5–10 million ants that live and work within hundreds of interconnected fungus-bearing chambers in huge subterranean nests. Some colonies are so large, they can be seen from satellite photos, measuring up to 600 m3.

Based on these habits, and taking phylogenetic information into consideration, these ants can be divided into six biologically distinct agricultural systems (with a list of genera involved in each category):

Nest Construction

A limited number of species that use fungi in the construction of their nests.

Lower Agriculture

Practiced by species in the majority of fungus-feeding genera, including those thought to retain more primitive features, which cultivate a wide range of fungal species in the tribe Leucocoprineae.

Coral Fungus Agriculture

Practiced by species in the Apterostigma pilosum species-group, which cultivate fungi within the Pterulaceae.

Yeast Agriculture

Practiced by species within the Cyphomyrmex rimosus species-group, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi derived from the lower attine fungi.

Generalized Higher Agriculture

Practiced by species in several genera of non-leaf-cutting "higher attine" ants, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi separately derived from the lower attine fungi.

Leaf-Cutter Agriculture

A subdivision of higher attine agriculture practiced by species within several ecologically dominant genera, which cultivate a single highly derived species of higher attine fungus.

Note that the farming habits of Mycetagroicus (4 species) are unknown. Also, while species of Pseudoatta (2 species) are closely related to the fungus-feeding genus Acromyrmex, they are social parasites, living in the nests of their hosts and are not actively involved in fungus growing. ‎

Association with Other Organisms

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Apocephalus lamellatus (a parasite) (phorid.net) (attacked).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Apocephalus luteihalteratus (a parasite) (phorid.net) (attacked).
  • This species is a associate (details unknown) for the phorid fly Ecitoptera proboscidalis (a associate (details unknown)) (Quevillon, 2018).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Allochaeta longiciliata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest; as Acromyrmex muticinodus).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Allochaeta longiciliata (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Allochaeta muticinodus (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius cuspidatus (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest; as Pheidologeton sp.).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius cuspidatus (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius tarsipennis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest; as Acromyrmex muticinodus).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Myrmosicarius tarsipennis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Procliniella hostilis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest; as Acromyrmex muticinodus).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Procliniella hostilis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Stenoneurellis laticeps (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest; as Acromyrmex muticinodus).
  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Stenoneurellis laticeps (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • niger. Oecodoma nigra Smith, F. 1858b: 186 (q.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
    • Type-material: holotype queen.
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Tejuca (H. Clark).
    • Type-depository: BMNH.
    • Emery, 1905c: 48 (w.m.).
    • Combination in Atta: Roger, 1863b: 35; Emery, in Dalla Torre, 1893: 153;
    • combination in Atta (Acromyrmex): Forel, 1893e: 590;
    • combination in Acromyrmex: Bruch, 1914: 216.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 35; Mayr, 1863: 438; Dalla Torre, 1893: 153; Emery, 1894c: 220; von Jhering, 1894: 387; Forel, 1895b: 139; Forel, 1899d: 273; Forel, 1904c: 34; Emery, 1905c: 48; Forel, 1908c: 350; Forel, 1908e: 69; Forel, 1911c: 291; Forel, 1912e: 182; Santschi, 1912e: 530; Bruch, 1914: 216; Mann, 1916: 454; Gallardo, 1916d: 334; Luederwaldt, 1918: 39; Emery, 1924d: 350; Santschi, 1925a: 358; Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 37; Santschi, 1925d: 241; Borgmeier, 1927c: 134; Gonçalves, 1961: 155; Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Cherrett & Cherrett, 1989: 51; Bolton, 1995b: 56; Wild, 2007b: 30.
    • Senior synonym of depressoculis: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.
    • Senior synonym of homalops: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.
    • Senior synonym of muticinoda: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.
    • Distribution: Brazil, Paraguay.
  • depressoculis. Acromyrmex subterranea var. depressoculis Forel, 1913l: 237 (w.) BRAZIL (Santa Catarina).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Santa Catarina, Hammonia, nos 15178, 2440 (H. von Ihering).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • [Misspelled as depressiusculis by Luederwaldt, 1918: 39.]
    • Subspecies of subterraneus: Luederwaldt, 1918: 39; Emery, 1924d: 350.
    • Subspecies of muticinoda: Santschi, 1925a: 371; Borgmeier, 1927c: 133; Santschi, 1929d: 304.
    • Junior synonym of muticinoda: Gonçalves, 1961: 153.
    • Junior synonym of niger: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.
  • homalops. Atta (Acromyrmex) muticinoda var. homalops Emery, 1905c: 47, figs. 10, 11 (w.m.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Santa Catarina).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-localities: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, (no collector’s name), Brazil: Espirito Santo (no collector’s name) , Brazil: Santa Catarina (no collector’s name), workers, 1 male Brazil: Santa Catarina (no collector’s name) (received from Wasmann).
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • Combination in Acromyrmex: Luederwaldt, 1918: 38.
    • Subspecies of coronatus: Forel, 1907e: 2; Forel, 1911c: 291; Luederwaldt, 1918: 38; Emery, 1924d: 348.
    • Subspecies of muticinoda: Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 37; Santschi, 1925a: 370; Borgmeier, 1927c: 134.
    • Junior synonym of muticinoda: Gonçalves, 1961: 153.
    • Junior synonym of niger: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.
  • muticinoda. Atta (Acromyrmex) nigra r. muticinoda Forel, 1901e: 336 (w.) BRAZIL (Ceará).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Ceará, Baturité (J. Schmitt).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Combination in Acromyrmex: Luederwaldt, 1918: 39.
    • Subspecies of niger: Forel, 1904d: 176; Luederwaldt, 1918: 39.
    • Status as species: Emery, 1905c: 47; Emery, 1924d: 350; Santschi, 1925a: 370; Wheeler, W.M. 1925a: 37; Borgmeier, 1927c: 133; Gonçalves, 1961: 153.
    • Junior synonym of niger: Gonçalves, 1967: 18; Kempf, 1972a: 14; Bolton, 1995b: 56.

Description

Karyotype

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  • 2n = 38, karyotype = 12M+14SM+10ST+2A (Brazil) (Barros et al., 2016).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Biagiotti G., J. A. Alves Pereira, C. Rodrigues Ribas, V. Korasaki, R. Zanetti, A. C. Medeiros de Queiroz. 2013. Richness and species composition of ants in the recovery process of a Gully erosion. Cerne, Lavras 19(4): 661-668.
  • Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
  • Dias N. S., R. Zanetti, M. S. Santos, J. Louzada, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2008. Interaction between forest fragments and adjacent coffee and pasture agroecosystems: responses of the ant communities (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 98(1): 136-142.
  • Diehl E., D. Faria Florencio, F. A. Schmidt, L. Valente Ayestaran Menzel. 2005. Richnes and composition of the communities of ants and termites in the Floresta Nacional de Sao Francisco de Paula (Flona-SFP). Acta Biologica Leopondensia 27(2): 99-106.
  • Diehl-Fleig E. 2014. Termites and Ants from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Sociobiology (in Press).
  • Forel A. 1901. Variétés myrmécologiques. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 45: 334-382.
  • Forel A. 1908. Ameisen aus Sao Paulo (Brasilien), Paraguay etc. gesammelt von Prof. Herm. v. Ihering, Dr. Lutz, Dr. Fiebrig, etc. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 58: 340-418.
  • Forel A. 1908. Catálogo systemático da collecção de formigas do Ceará. Boletim do Museu Rocha 1(1): 62-69.
  • Forel A. 1911. Ameisen des Herrn Prof. v. Ihering aus Brasilien (Sao Paulo usw.) nebst einigen anderen aus Südamerika und Afrika (Hym.). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1911: 285-312.
  • Forel A. 1912. Formicides néotropiques. Part II. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae Lep. (Attini, Dacetii, Cryptocerini). Mémoires de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 19: 179-209.
  • Fowler, H.G. 1992. Patterns of colonization and incipient nest survival inAcromyrmex niger andAcromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux 39(3):347-350
  • Gallardo A. 1916. Notes systématiques et éthologiques sur les fourmis attines de la République Argentine. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Buenos Aires 28: 317-344.
  • Gonçalves C. R. 1961. O genero Acromyrmex no Brasil (Hym. Formicidae). Stud. Entomol. 4: 113-180.
  • Kempf W. W. 1978. A preliminary zoogeographical analysis of a regional ant fauna in Latin America. 114. Studia Entomologica 20: 43-62.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Klingenberg, C. and C.R.F. Brandao. 2005. The type specimens of fungus growing ants, Attini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia 45(4):41-50
  • Luederwaldt H. 1918. Notas myrmecologicas. Rev. Mus. Paul. 10: 29-64.
  • Maciel L., J. Iantas, F. C. Gruchowski-W, and D. R. Holdefer. 2011. INVENTORY OF FAUNA OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) IN ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION FLORISTIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE CITY OF UNION OF VICTORIA, PARANA, BRAZIL. Biodiversidade Pampeana Pucrs, Uruguiana 9(1): 38-43.
  • Marinho C. G. S., R. Zanetti, J. H. C. Delabie, M. N. Schlindwein, and L. de S. Ramos. 2002. Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Diversity in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) Plantations and Cerrado Litter in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 31(2): 187-195.
  • Menozzi C. 1926. Neue Ameisen aus Brasilien. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 69: 68-72.
  • Mentone T. O., E. A. Diniz, C. B. Munhae, O. C. Bueno, and M. S. C. Morini. 2011. Composition of ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at litter in areas of semi-deciduous forest and Eucalyptus spp., in Southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 11(2): http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v11n2/en/abstract?inventory+bn00511022011.
  • Morini M. S. de C., C. de B. Munhae, R. Leung, D. F. Candiani, and J. C. Voltolini. 2007. Comunidades de formigas (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) em fragmentos de Mata Atlântica situados em áreas urbanizadas. Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 97(3): 246-252.
  • Munhae C. B., Z. A. F. N. Bueno, M. S. C. Morini, and R. R. Silva. 2009. Composition of the Ant Fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Public Squares in Southern Brazil. Sociobiology 53(2B): 455-472.
  • Oliveira Mentone T. de, E. A. Diniz, C. de Bortoli Munhae, O. Correa Bueno and M. S. de Castro Morini. 2012. Composition of ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at litter in areas of semi-deciduous forest and Eucalyptus spp., in Southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop 11(2): 237-246.
  • Orsolon-Souza G., C. E. L. Esberard, A. J. Mayhe-Nunes, A. B. Vargas, S. Veiga-Ferreira, and E. Folly-Ramos. 2011. Comparison between Winkler’s extractor and pitfall traps to estimate leaf litter ants richness (Formicidae) at a rainforest site in southest Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 71(4): 873-880.
  • Pacheco, R., R.R. Silva, M.S. de C. Morini, C.R.F. Brandao. 2009. A Comparison of the Leaf-Litter Ant Fauna in a Secondary Atlantic Forest with an Adjacent Pine Plantation in Southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 38(1):055-065
  • Ramos L. de S., C. G. S. Marinho, R. Zanetti, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2003. Impacto de iscas formicidas granuladas sobre a mirmecofauna não-alvo em eucaliptais segundo duas formas de aplicacação / Impact of formicid granulated baits on non-target ants in eucalyptus plantations according to two forms of application. Neotropical Entomology 32(2): 231-237.
  • Rodrigues de Souza D., E. Stingel, L. C. de Almeida, M. A. Lazarini, C. de Bortoli Munhae, A. J. Mayhe-Nunes, O. Correa Bueno, and M. Santina de C. Morini. 2010. Ant Diversity in a Sugarcane Culture without the Use of Straw Burning in Southeast, São Paulo, Brazil. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 5 (2): 183-188.
  • Rodrigues de Souza D., E. Stingel, L. C. de Almeida, M. A. Lazarini, C. de Bortoli Munhae, O. Correa Bueno, C. R. Archangelo, and M. Santina de C. Morini. 2010. Field methods for the study of ants in sugarcane plantations in Southeastern Brazil. Sci. Agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.) 67(6): 651-657.
  • Rosumek, F.B., M.A. Ulyssea, B.C. Lopes, J. Steiner. 2008. Formigas de solo e de bromélias em uma área de Mata Atlântica, Ilha de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil: Levantamento de espécies e novos registros. Revista Biotemas 21(4):81-89.
  • Sanhudo C. E., and E. Diehl-Fleig. 1999. Especies de formigas cortadeiras e densidade de ninhos em areas de reflorestamento. Naturalia, Sao Paulo 24: 123-124.
  • Santos M. S., J. N. C. Louzada, N. Dias, R. Zanetti, J. H. C. Delabie, and I. C. Nascimento. 2006. Litter ants richness (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in remnants of a semi-deciduous forest in the Atlantic rain forest, Alto do Rio Grande region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 96(1): 95-101.
  • Santos Rando J. S., and L. C. Forti. 2005. Occurrence of ants Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 in some cities of Brasil. Maringá 27(2): 129-133.
  • Silva R.R., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2014. Ecosystem-Wide Morphological Structure of Leaf-Litter Ant Communities along a Tropical Latitudinal Gradient. PLoSONE 9(3): e93049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093049
  • Sobrinho T., J. H. Schoereder, C. F. Sperber, and M. S. Madureira. 2003. Does fragmentation alter species composition in ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)? Sociobiology 42(2): 329-342.
  • Suguituru S. S., D. R. de Souza, C. de Bortoli Munhae, R. Pacheco, and M. S. de Castro Morini. 2011. Diversidade e riqueza de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica na Bacia Hidrográfica do Alto Tietê, SP. Biota Neotrop. 13(2): 141-152.
  • Suguituru S. S., M. Santina de Castro Morini, R. M. Feitosa, and R. Rosa da Silva. 2015. Formigas do Alto Tiete. Canal 6 Editora 458 pages
  • Suguituru S. S., R. Rosa Silva, D. R. de Souza, C. de Bortoli Munhae, and M. Santina de Castro Morini. Ant community richness and composition across a gradient from Eucalyptus plantations to secondary Atlantic Forest. Biota Neotrop. 11(1): 369-376.
  • Taerum, S.J., M.J. Cafaro, A.E.F. Little, T.R. Schultz, C.R. Currie. 2007. Low Host-Pathogen Specificity in the Leaf-Cutting Ant-Microbe Symbiosis. Proceedings: Biological Sciences 274(1621):1971-197
  • Ulyssea M.A., C. E. Cereto, F. B. Rosumek, R. R. Silva, and B. C. Lopes. 2011. Updated list of ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) recorded in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, with a discussion of research advances and priorities. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 55(4): 603-–611.
  • Vittar, F. 2008. Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mesopotamia Argentina. INSUGEO Miscelania 17(2):447-466