Oligomyrmex

Oligomyrmex is one of the smallest of ants in terms of size. Workers of these species are typically around 1 millimeter in length. The workers are dimorphic with a major worker caste. Being so tiny they are hardly ever spotted even though they are quite common in this locale being found throughout Malaysia. When I was a young boy I thought that these were a species of Pheidole as some species do look strikingly like Pheidole especially considering they are so tiny that unless equiped with a powerful magnifying glass (lens) their features are not easily discernable. Alternate name for this genus is Carebara. Many species of Oligomyrmex are specialist thief ants but not all.

Sp1.

The major worker of Oligomyrmex sp1. This is the smallest species of Oligomyrmex in terms of body length in this page. This species is not a specialist thief ant.

Workers of Oligomyrmex against a millimeter tape. The minor worker of this first species is slightly below 1 millimeter while the major is around 1.5 millimeter.

The major and minor (turned turtle) worker of Oligomyrmex.

The major worker of Oligomyrmex sp1.

The major worker of Oligomyrmex sp1.

Sp2.

The major worker of a glossy looking Oligomyrmex species. This species has a glossy appearance. It also has the longish apperance as compared with the first species. This species is also not a specialist thief ant.

The minor worker of Oligomyrmex sp. The minor worker at 1 mm.

An alate gyne of Oligomyrmex.

Major and minor workers of Oligomyrmex.

A major worker of Oligomyrmex carrying a pupa.

Major and minor workers of Oligomyrmex.

Sp3.

A major worker. This third species is similar to the second with the same longish apperance but it is not glossy in appearance. This is a specialist thief ant species.

The major worker of Oligomyrmex sp3 showing the 'horns' at the back of the head.

The major worker of Oligomyrmex sp3 showing the 'horns' at the back of the head.

The gyne or queen of Oligomyrmex sp3 surrounded by her protective workers.

Major and minor workers of Oligomyrmex sp3. The 'horns' at the back of the head of the major is here (top and bottom image) bearly visible.

Major and minor workers of Oligomyrmex sp3. The 'horns' at the back of the head of the major is here (top and bottom image) bearly visible.

Oligomyrmex queen surrounded by her protective workers. Two dots on the head of the major worker are the two 'horns.'

Minor workers of this Oligomyrmex species feeding on part of a dragon fly. Major workers of thief ants specialist Oligomyrmex species do not commonly take part in food acquisition.

The queen of Oligomyrmex.

Female alate of Oligomyrmex sp. in the ready for mating position.

Male alate of Oligomyrmex sp.

Sp3.

Here is a ‘long form’ Oligomyrmex species. The gaster of the minor workers are longer and pointer at the end similar to Solenopsis molesta. This is another thief ant species.

The major worker and minor worker of this longish Oligomyrmex species. Barely visible in this photo is the horns on the back of the head of the major worker.

The major worker and minor worker of this longish Oligomyrmex species

A female alate of this 'long form' Oligomyrmex ant.

Sp4.

Here is a large species of Oligomyrmex also a ‘long form’ species. The major worker at 4.5 millimeters is huge compared with the minor worker at just below 2 millimeters which is about the same size as workers of Solenopsis molesta. This is another thief ant species.

Major and minor workers of a 'large' Oligomyrmex species.

Major worker of this 'large' Oligomyrmex species showing the horns on the back of its head.

One of the larger Oligomyrmex ant, the minor worker is almost 2 millimeters.

The male of this 'large' Oligomyrmex species.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Arthropoda
Subphylum - Hexapoda
Class - Insecta
Subclass - Pterygota
Infraclass - Neoptera
Order - Hymenoptera
Suborder - Apocrita
Infraorder - Aculeata
Superfamily - Vespoidea
Family - Formicidae -- ants, fourmis
Subfamily - Myrmicinae
Genus: Carebara/Oligomyrmex.

Last Updated: 2011 11 11

© 2011 Quah. All rights reserved.