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Nesomyrmex

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Nesomyrmex
Temporal range: 20.43–0 Ma Early Miocene – Recent
Nesomyrmex angulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Alliance: Cataulacus genus group
Genus: Nesomyrmex
Wheeler, W.M., 1910
Type species
Nesomyrmex clavipilis
Diversity
87 species
2 fossil species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Nesomyrmex angulatus

Specimen Label

Synonyms

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - Nesomyrmex, formerly a subgenus of the large and almost cosmopolitan Leptothorax, was raised to genus in 2003 (Bolton, 2003) and 52 species can be encountered in the tropics and subtropics of the Neotropical, Malagasy and Afrotropical regions (Bolton, 2012). The biology of the genus is not well studied. Most species prefer arid habitats while a few live in rainforests. Generally, Nesomyrmex ants can nest either in the soil, as most South African species do, or in trees (Mbanyana & Roberson, 2008), often in pre-existing cavities.

Identification

Neotropics

Mandibles with three to five teeth; middle part of clypeus projecting anteriorly over mandibles; clypeus without central subapical hairs; frontal carinae absent, in some species frontal lobe followed by a weak longitudinal striae; eyes located above midlength of head; antennae with 11 or 12 antennomeres, apical club of 3 antennomeres; humerus angled, serrate or rounded; metanotal groove usually absent; propodeal lobes angled to rounded; petiole and postpetiole with and without tubercles. (Pazmiño-Palomino et al., 2025)

Afrotropics

Superficially, Nesomyrmex workers with a rounded propodeum that lacks spines can be confused with Monomorium, but can be distinguished by lacking the isolated median setae on the anterior clypeal margin. Those species of Nesomyrmex that have the propodeum armed or angulate, superficially resemble Tetramorium species, and can be separated from them mainly by the lateral portions of clypeus, which are not raised into a narrow ridge or shield-wall in front of the antennal insertions, unlike in Tetramorium. Nesomyrmex can also be confused with Cardiocondyla because the median portion of the clypeus extends over the mandibles in both genera. They are most easily distinguished by the shape of the postpetiole in dorsal view, which in Cardiocondyla is considerably broader than the petiolar node. In addition, the eyes of Cardiocondyla are in front of the midlength of the sides whereas in Nesomyrmex they are at the midlength. (Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008)

Nesomyrmex species groups of the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

Keys to Species in this Genus

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 29 0 0 33 1 22 0 3
Total Species 2851 1736 3047 932 840 4391 1767 2925

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Dominican amber, Dominican Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene).

Biology

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: ~22-47 to "rarely" >100 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

 Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• Antennal segment count: 11, 12 • Antennal club: 3 • Palp formula: 5,3 • Total dental count: 3-5 • Spur formula: 2 simple, 2 simple; 0, 0 • Eyes: 11->100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: dentiform; present • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Male Morphology

 Explore: Show all Male Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

 • Antennal segment count 12; 13 • Antennal club 0 • Palp formula 5,3 • Total dental count 5 • Spur formula 0, 0

Phylogeny

Myrmicinae
Myrmicini
Pogonomyrmecini
Stenammini
Solenopsidini
Attini

Ochetomyrmex  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Tranopelta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Diaphoromyrma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lachnomyrmex  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Blepharidatta  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Allomerus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Wasmannia  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Pheidole  (1,297 species, 8 fossil species)

Cephalotes  (123 species, 16 fossil species)

Procryptocerus  (44 species, 0 fossil species)

Strumigenys  (882 species, 4 fossil species)

Phalacromyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Pilotrochus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Protalaridris  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Rhopalothrix  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Basiceros  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Octostruma  (35 species, 0 fossil species)

Eurhopalothrix  (55 species, 0 fossil species)

Talaridris  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthognathus  (7 species, 1 fossil species)

Daceton  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Lenomyrmex  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Microdaceton  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Orectognathus  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Colobostruma  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Epopostruma  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

Mesostruma  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Paleoattina

Apterostigma  (44 species, 2 fossil species)

Mycocepurus  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmicocrypta  (31 species, 0 fossil species)

Neoattina

Cyatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Kalathomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetarotes  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetosoritis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex  (23 species, 2 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex

Paramycetophylax  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetophylax  (21 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetagroicus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetomoellerius  (33 species, 1 fossil species)

Sericomyrmex  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Xerolitor  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Paratrachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Trachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Amoimyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Atta  (20 species, 1 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex  (51 species, 0 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex

Pseudoatta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogastrini

Rostromyrmex  (1 species, 6 fossil species)

Cardiocondyla  (90 species, 0 fossil species)

Ocymyrmex  (34 species, 0 fossil species)

Nesomyrmex  (87 species, 2 fossil species)

Xenomyrmex  (5 species, 0 fossil species)

Terataner  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Atopomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Cataulacus  (65 species, 3 fossil species)

Carebara  (252 species, 9 fossil species)

Diplomorium  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Melissotarsus  (4 species, 1 fossil species)

Rhopalomastix  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Calyptomyrmex  (38 species, 0 fossil species)

Strongylognathus  (27 species, 0 fossil species), Tetramorium  (604 species, 2 fossil species)

Cyphoidris  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Dicroaspis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Aretidris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Vollenhovia  (83 species, 3 fossil species)

Dacetinops  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Indomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogaster  (786 species, 0 fossil species)

Meranoplus  (93 species, 0 fossil species)

Lophomyrmex  (13 species, 0 fossil species)

Adlerzia  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Recurvidris  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Stereomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Trichomyrmex  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Eutetramorium  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Royidris  (15 species, 0 fossil species)

Malagidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Vitsika  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Huberia  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Podomyrma  (62 species, 1 fossil species)

Liomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Metapone  (33 species, 0 fossil species)

Kartidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Mayriella  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Tetheamyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Dacatria  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Proatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Dilobocondyla  (22 species, 0 fossil species)

Secostruma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthomyrmex  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmecina  (106 species, 0 fossil species)

Perissomyrmex  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Pristomyrmex  (61 species, 3 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma  (36 species, 0 fossil species)

Propodilobus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lasiomyrma  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Ancyridris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Paratopula  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Poecilomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Romblonella  (10 species, 0 fossil species)

Rotastruma  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Gauromyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Vombisidris  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Temnothorax  (536 species, 1 fossil species)

Harpagoxenus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Formicoxenus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Leptothorax  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Myrmicinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • NESOMYRMEX [Myrmicinae: Formicoxenini]
    • Nesomyrmex Wheeler, W.M. 1910a: 259. Type-species: Nesomyrmex clavipilis, by monotypy.
    • Nesomyrmex subgenus of Leptothorax: Emery, 1915g: 24; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 679; Smith, M.R. 1950: 30; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 816; Kempf, 1959c: 393; Brown, 1971a: 4; Kempf, 1972a: 133; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1391.
    • Nesomyrmex as genus: Francoeur & Loiselle, 1988b: 43 (possibly valid); Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 14 [junior synonyms of Nesomyrmex left under Leptothorax]; Jaffe, 1993: 11.
    • Nesomyrmex junior synonym of Goniothorax: Emery, 1924d: 249; Donisthorpe, 1943f: 674. [Incorrect procedure as Goniothorax is a junior homonym for which Nesomyrmex is the first available replacement name, see Smith, M.R. 1950: 30.]
    • Nesomyrmex senior synonym of Caulomyrma: Emery, 1915g: 24; Forel, 1915c: 364.
    • Nesomyrmex senior synonym of Limnomyrmex: Brown, 1971a: 4.
    • Nesomyrmex senior synonym of Meia: Bolton, 1994: 105.
    • Nesomyrmex junior synonym of Leptothorax: Bolton, 1982: 319.
    • Nesomyrmex revived from synonymy with status as genus and senior synonym of Caulomyrma, Ireneopone, Limnomyrmex, Meia, Tetramyrma: Bolton, 2003: 249, 272.
  • CAULOMYRMA [junior synonym of Nesomyrmex]
    • Caulomyrma Forel, 1914d: 233 [as subgenus of Leptothorax]. Type-species: Leptothorax echinatinodis, by original designation.
    • Caulomyrma junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: [Forel, 1915c: 364 (provisional synonym)]; Emery, 1915g: 24.
    • [Caulomyrma and Nesomyrmex junior synonyms of Goniothorax: Emery, 1924d: 249 (incorrect procedure as Goniothorax is a junior homonym for which Nesomyrmex is the first available replacement name; see Smith, M.R. 1950: 30).]
  • GONIOTHORAX [junior homonym, see Nesomyrmex]
    • Goniothorax Emery, 1896g: 58 (diagnosis in key) [as subgenus of Leptothorax]. Type-species: Leptothorax vicinus, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 164. [Junior homonym of Goniothorax Milne-Edwards, 1879: 103 (Crustacea).]
    • Goniothorax Emery senior synonym of Caulomyrma, Nesomyrmex: Emery, 1924d: 249. Nesomyrmex is oldest junior synonym of Goniothorax Emery and hence first available replacement name: Smith, M.R. 1950: 30.
    • [Goniothorax as subgenus of Leptothorax: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 139; Forel, 1917: 244; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 679; Emery, 1924d: 249; Creighton, 1950a: 259.]
  • IRENEOPONE [junior synonym of Nesomyrmex]
    • Ireneopone Donisthorpe, 1946d: 242. Type-species: Ireneopone gibber, by original designation.
    • Ireneopone junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 250, 272.
  • LIMNOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Nesomyrmex]
    • Limnomyrmex Arnold, 1948: 222. Type-species: Limnomyrmex stramineus, by original designation.
    • Limnomyrmex junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: Brown, 1971a: 4.
    • Limnomyrmex junior synonym of Leptothorax: Bolton, 1982: 319.
    • Limnomyrmex junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 250, 272.
  • MEIA [junior synonym of Nesomyrmex]
    • Meia Pagliano & Scaramozzino, 1990: 5. [Unnecessary replacement name for Goniothorax Emery, 1896g: 58; junior homonym of Goniothorax Milne-Edwards, 1879: 103 (Crustacea).]
    • [Nesomyrmex is the first available replacement name for Goniothorax Emery, therefore Meia is automatically a junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 1994: 105.]
  • TETRAMYRMA [junior synonym of Nesomyrmex]
    • Tetramyrma Forel, 1912m: 766 [as subgenus of Dilobocondyla]. Type-species: Dilobocondyla (Tetramyrma) braunsi, by monotypy.
    • Tetramyrma raised to genus: Forel, 1913a: 122.
    • Tetramyrma junior synonym of Leptothorax: Bolton, 1982: 319.
    • Tetramyrma junior synonym of Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 249, 272.

References