| Myrmecocystus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Myrmecocystus sp. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Lasiini |
| Genus: | Myrmecocystus Wesmael, 1838 |
| Type species | |
| Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael, 1838
| |
| Diversity[1] | |
| 29 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Endiodioctes Snelling, 1976 | |
Myrmecocystus (from Koine Greek μυρμήκιον [mýrmikion], meaning "ant", and κύστις [kýstis], meaning "bladder" or "sac") is a North American genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. It is one of five genera that includes honeypot ants.[2] Worker ants keep and tend plerergates, which are other ants that store large quantities of nutritious fluid in their abdomens to feed the colony during famine times. Some species engage in highly territorial tournaments, which can result in intraspecific slavery.[3] During the raids, they carry off larvae, workers, and plerergates.[4]
- ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Myrmecocystus". AntCat. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ Morgan, R. Biology, husbandry and display of the diurnal honey ant Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Archived 2010-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kronauer, D. J. C.; Gadau, J.; Hölldobler, B. (2003). "Genetic evidence for intra- and interspecific slavery in honey ants (genus Myrmecocystus)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 270 (1517): 805–810. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2288. JSTOR 3558609. PMC 1691314. PMID 12737658.
- ^ "Honey Ant War Games End in Slavery". Science News. 109 (23/24): 358. 1976. doi:10.2307/3960982. JSTOR 3960982.