Dorylus Laevigatus

Dorylus laevigathus is an average size blind (eyeless) ant that is mostly subterranean during the day. Typically Dorylus laevigathus burrow through the soul hunting for prey and foraging for vegetative food but at night these ants will forage and hunt above ground displaying the characteristic hunting behavior of army ants.  Dorylus laevigatus is another species with a high degree of polymorphism. There are at least seven different workers sizes with the smallest at slight over 2 millimeters and the largest at 9 to 10 mm. The smallest worker function mainly as a janitor cleaner of the workers, brood and nest. This true caste separation is seen also in leaf cutter ants and Oecophylla smaragdina.

Mass of Dorylus laevigatus

Major workers of Dorylus laevigatus.

Dorylus laevigatus workers both major, median and minors. There are at least seven distinct workers morphology in Dorylus laevigatus the smallest workers at around 2.5 millimeters appeared to have a prominant role in the cleaning and grooming of the other workers.

The largest and smallest worker of Dorylus laevigatus.

Last Updated: 2016 01 26
First Posted: 2011 06 26
© 2011 – 2016 Quah. All rights reserved.

Microcerotermes Biroi.

A less common species of Microcerotermes is the Microcerotermes biroi. The mandibles of the soldiers have very pronounced serration. It is highly unusual for termites from this region to have such pronounced serrations on the mandibles. One can't help but wonder about the function of these especially for very small termites. The Microcerotermes genus of termites are arboreal with their nest usually on the main trunks of trees.

In this Microcerotermes species the soldiers are both slimmer and with a much longer abdomen than that of the more common Microcerotermes crassus.

This species has been tentatively labelled as Microcerotermes biroi as it bears the closest resemblances to this species. While it also bear a close resemblance to Microcerotermes dubious, the smaller head capsule and the very pronounced serration on the inside edges of the mandibles differentiate it significantly.

The serrated mandibles of the soldiers of Microcerotermes biroi.

A soldier, worker and some nymphs (or larvae) of Microcerotermes biroi.

Nymphs or larvae of the Microcerotermes biroi termites.

The unusually long abdomen of the soldier of Microcerotermes biroi.

An unusual worker with darkened head. A very small percentage of the workers of Microcerotermes have red colored heads which are typically smaller than the heads of the more common workers. Is this dimorphism of workers? 

A soldier of the termite species Microcerotermes biroi.

The soldier nymph of the Microcerotermes biroi flank by two soldiers.

Other Species:

Microcerotermes serrula.

Microcerotermes crassus



Taxonomy:

Cellular organisms; 131567

Eukaryota; 2759

Opisthokonta; 33154

Metazoa; 33208

Eumetazoa; 6072

Bilateria; 33213

Coelomata; 33316

Protostomia; 33317

Panarthropoda; 88770

Arthropoda; 6656

Mandibulata; 197563

Pancrustacea; 197562

Hexapoda; 6960

Insecta; 50557

Dicondylia; 85512

Pterygota; 7496

Neoptera; 33340

Orthopteroidea; 33341

Dictyoptera; 6970

Blattodea 85823

Isoptera; 7499

Termitidae; 46569

Termitinae; 92738

Amitermes group; 377832

Microcerotermes; 139992

biroi

Last Updated: 2013 09 20
First Posted: 2011 06 12
© 2011 - 2013 Quah. All rights reserved.

Monomorium

Monomorium pharaonis is the most famous species of this genus being a pest and nuisance ants in most South Asian household. When I was young, Monomorium destructor was also a huge pest due mainly to their large numbers forming endless marching columns on walls and sides of floors. Their lines stretches over several household and buildings. But thanks to cheap and potent pesticides they are near extinct from urban and semi urban areas where their once ubiqutious lines stretching across houses and buildings are now rarely seen. Generally Monomorium are polygynous and many species of Monomorium are monomorphic but not all.

Monomorium pharaonis.

 Monomorium pharaonis.

Monomorium sp (aka Monomorium pseudopharaonis)

Trichomyrmex destructor

Monomorium destructor (senior synonym Trichomyrmex destructor — Jerdon 1851) aka Singapore ant.

 Monomorium destructor.

Monomorium Sp1.

Monomorium Sp2.

 This is a small species (measuring at 1.6 millimeters) even as Monomorium are small ants.

Monomorium Sp3.

Here is another small species of Monorium. This species measured at 1.4 millimeters.

 The queen and some female alates and worker of Monomorium sp.

The male of this small monomorium species.

The male of Monomorium ant with workers and larvae.

Monomorium Sp4.

This species resembles Monomorium floricola. Typical of Monomorium this species is monomorphic and polygynous.

A bicolor Monomorium species. Photo below of nest with queen.

A Monomorium floricola look alike.

Monomorium floricola

Workers of Monomorium floricola. Like many of the Monomorium genus, Monomorium floricola are polygynous and monomorphic.

Monomorium floricola

See also:
Monomorium destructor (Trichomyrmex destructor)
Monomorium pharaonis and Pseudopharaonis
Monomorium floricola

Taxonomy

(no rank) Root 1

(Top Node) Cellular organism 131567
Superkingdom: Eukaryota 2759 [Domain]
(no rank) Opisthokonta 33154
Kingdom: Metazoa 33208
(no rank) Eumetazoa 6072
(no rank) Bilateria 33213
(no rank) Coelomata 33316
(no rank) Protosomia 33317
(no rank) Panarthropoda 88770
Phylum: Arthropoda 6656
(no rank) Mandibulata 197563
(no rank) Pancrustacea 197562
Superclass: Hexapoda 6960
Class: Insecta 50557
(no rank) Dicondylia 85512
(no rank) Pterygota 7496
Subclass: Neoptera 33340
Infraclass: Endopterygota 33392
Order: Hymenoptera 7399
(no rank) Apocrita 7400
Suborder: Aculeata 7434
Superfamily: Vespoidea 34725
Family: Formicidae 36668

Subfamily: Myrmicinae 34695
Tribe: Solenopsidini 144017
Genus: Monomorium 55077
Species: floricola 612295
               pharaonis 307658

             
Tribe: Crematogastrini 144004
Genus: Trichomyrmex 1652995

Species: destructor 369170

(this will be remove when I have some time)

Last Updated:  2018 04 18
First Posted: 2011 06 03
© 2011 – 2018  Quah. All rights reserved.