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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Myriapods (Myriapoda) » Millipedes (Diplopoda) » Flat-backed Millipedes (Polydesmida) » Pyrgodesmidae » Myrmecodesmus
Photo#1552687
possible ant inquiline - Myrmecodesmus
Copyright © 2018 Diane Young

possible ant inquiline - Myrmecodesmus
San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, USA
July 9, 2018
Size: 1 cm
Found this creature and some pale immatures associated with ants under a rock. I could get specimens of the ants if anyone is interested. I have no idea what this is. I'm going to be feel humble if this is an insect larva. The shape of the head reminds me of that of bristle millipedes. When I first saw it, it was waving white antennae but did not repeat this behavior as I photographed it.
Contributed by Diane Young on 9 July, 2018 - 10:31am
Last updated 9 July, 2018 - 9:04pm

Moved
Moved from Myriapods.

I'll let the millipede specialists decide whether or not a new species page is warranted.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 July, 2018 - 9:04pm

 
I am mailing the specimen ...
to James this morning.
… Diane Young, 10 July, 2018 - 5:44am

Heard from James Reddell
"This is probably Myrmecodesmus formicarius which was described by Filippo Silvestri in 1910 from a nest of Solenopsis geminata in Veracruz, Mexico. It was later reported (as a new species) from Louisiana in 1944.
The family Pyrgodesmidae is probably entirely neotropical. A second species, Myrmecodesmus reddelli was described in more recent years from the surface near Boerne. In all of our years of collecting M. formicarius was'nt found until the fire ant invasion. It is now known from many caves in Central Texas, all infested by fire ants."

I hope you collected it so that it can be identified.
… Diane Young, 9 July, 2018 - 7:57pm

Maybe something in this neighborhood
… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 July, 2018 - 3:03pm

 
Thanks so much!
I know James Reddell. I'll have to ask him more about this creature.
… Diane Young, 9 July, 2018 - 3:07pm

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