Trichomyrmex destructor

Monomorium destructor has been updated to its senior synonym Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon 1851) This species is polymorphic having four main morphological expressions in its worker caste. Trichomyrmex destructor is also polygynous. It is a serious pest pest species with colonies causing serious damages to food stores.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor. Below are the median worker and the lesser and the larger major workers missing is the minor worker.

A major worker of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor showing the four main morphological expression of the caste, two larger majors, a few lesser majors, a few medians and one minor worker.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor showing the four morphological expression of the caste.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor showing the four morphological expression of the caste.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

Workers of Monomorium destructor.

Workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

Major, median and minor workers of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

A minor worker of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

Worker of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

Worker of Trichomyhrmex destructor.

 Queen

 Queen

Queen

Foundess queen with her first brood of workers

 Trichomyrmex destructor nesting inside cracks and gaps of concrete walls

Passive Aggression

 Trichomyrmex destructor workers strategically placing themselves all over a site to drive off Tapinoma melanocephalum from nesting in cracks of the same wall not far (around 40 centimeter) from where their nest.

 In this manner without actually attacking the Tapinoma they were able to drive them off. I caught this a little late and the main confrontation had already dissipated leaving just a small area (about a third) of the initial confrontation coverage and density by the time it took me to retrieve my camera from my residence and rushed down to take this shot. By the time I got back the Tapinoma had already mostly retreated and the Trichomyrmex coverage over the area was no longer as dense and only a third of the initial.

A close up of the left over confrontation.

Here Trichomyrmex destructor managed to drive off Carebara (Pheidologeton) ssp workers from a food find with the same passive-aggression strategy. Their strategy seems to be if they are attacked then only they attack back, biting and stinging. Solenopsis geminata too deploy a similar passive-aggressive strategy (they raise the gaster and secrete a tiny drop of venom) to protect and drive off other ants from their food find.

See also:

Monomorium
Monomorium floricola

Monomorium pharaonis

Taxonomy:

No rank: cellular organisms 131567

Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota 2759

No rank: Opisthokonta 33154

Kingdom: Metazoa 33208

No rank: Eumetazoa 6072

No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria 33213

No rank (Branch): Protostomia 33317

No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa

No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda 88770

Phylum: Arthropoda 6656

No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata 197563

No rank: Pancrustacea 197562

Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda 6960

Class: Insecta 50557

No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia 85512

Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota 7496

Infraclass: Neoptera 33340

Cohort: Holometabola

Order: Hymenoptera 7399

Suborder Apocrita 7400

Infraorder: Aculeata 7434

Superfamily: Formicoidea

Family: Formicidae 36668

Subfamily: Myrmicinae 34695

Tribe: Solenopsidini 144017

Genus: Trichomyrmex  1652995

Species: destructor 369170

Last Updated:  2021 09 03
First Posted: 2012 04 24

© 2009 – 2021 Quah. All rights reserved.

Dicuspiditermes

Dicuspiditermes is another genus that has been classified under the Termes group of the taxon subfamily of Termitinae. Dicuspiditermes, Kemneritermes and Pericapritermes looks fairly similar.  Of the Dicuspiditermes termites the species Dicuspiditermes nemorosus is the most commonly found. From morphological appearance Dicuspiditermes sits between Procapritermes and Pericapritermes.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus are characterized by at least three distinct nest structures that are peculiar to each of these ethos type. Aside from the differences in the nest structure there are also characteristic differences in the sizes of each nest structure type. Of these, two ethos types have a single protruding nest structure with slight differences in the structure shape while a third ethos type is typified by several protruding nest all connected at the based (and commonly at the base of a tree but not always) which typically (of all three ethos type) is a semi circular inverse dome starting from the ground surface and extending into a somewhat circular dome shape below.

Soldiers of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

 Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

 Soldier and workers of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

 Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldiers of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldiers of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

A worker and soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

Soldiers and a worker of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

A worker and soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

A Dicuspiditermes nemorosus worker termite.

 A worker and soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

Workers, nymphs and a soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite imago.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite imago.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite imago.

Nymph or larva of reproductive of Dicuspiditermes termite.

Pre-adult soldier larva of Dicuspiditermes termite. The final instar larva of a soldier of Dicuspiditermes termite.

The protruding nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus. The main part of the nest is actually at the base and below the ground spreading out beneath as a half dome about four times the diameter of the above ground protusion.

Nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus cut to show internal chambers.

Nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus cross section to show internal chambers.

Soldier and worker of Discuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus ssp2.

This possibly sub species of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus has a different nest structure with multiple towers. Both species are found in the same forest area. In this species (as also in those of the third ethos type) the head capsule of the soldiers shows a slight widening at the anterior (front) end.

Worker and soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Workers and soldier of the termites species Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldiers and workers of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus termite.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Soldier of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Nest of termite Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Nest of Dicsupiditermes nemorosus.

Nest of Dicsupiditermes nemorosus.

Nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus' nest.

Nest of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus.

Dicuspiditermes nemorosus ssp3.

Workers and soldiers of Dicuspidtermes nemorosus ssp3.

Worker and soldier of Dicuspidtermes nemorosus ssp3. This species is the smallest with the soldiers just over 5 millimeters (typical size) while the other two ethos type has soldiers at around 6 millimeters (typical size).

Nest of this third ethos type are typically smaller with a narrow stalk like lower portion. The holes are made by solitary wasp incubating their brood in the termite nest.

Dicuspiditermes sp?

This species looks fairly similar to Dicuspiditermes nemorosus and is the same size at 6 millimeters. The head capsule of the soldiers are boarder in the center of the capsule than at the anterior and posterior end, and also proportionately short (length to width ratio). Also there appears to be a very slight divide or parting on the head capsule at the posterior. Overall the head capsule appears broader (relatively to the length).

Dicuspiditermes sp3

Soldiers of Dicuspiditermes. This species is less common than Dicuspiditermes nemorosus. It is also slightly larger. It looks very much like Dicuspiditermes laetus but I do not have enough information to confirm it.

Soldiers and a worker of Dicuspiditermes sp.

Soldiers of Dicuspidtermes sp.

Taxonomy
No rank: cellular organisms
Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota
No rank: Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Metazoa
No rank: Eumetazoa
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria
No rank (Branch): Protostomia
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata
No rank: Pancrustacea
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
No rank: Polyneoptera
No rank (Superorder): Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
No rank: Termitiodea 1912919

Family: Termitidae 46569

Subfamily: Termitinae 92738

Group: Pericapritermes 1934616

Genus: Dicuspiditermes 73856

Species: nemorosus 73857


Updated: 2022 01 27 
Posted: 2012 04 17

©  2010 - 2022 Quah. All rights reserved.