Polyergus lucidus

Polyergus lucidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Polyergus
Species:
P. lucidus
Binomial name
Polyergus lucidus
Mayr, 1870

Polyergus lucidus is a species of slave-making ant in the subfamily Formicinae endemic to the eastern United States. It is an obligatory social parasite, unable to feed itself or look after its brood and reliant on ants of another species of the genus Formica to undertake these tasks. Parasitic ants are known as "dulotics" (from the Greek δοῦλος doulos, meaning a slave) and the ants they parasitise are known as "hosts".

  1. ^ Social Insects Specialist Group (1996). "Polyergus lucidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T17928A7636775. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T17928A7636775.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.