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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Myrmicinae » Crematogastrini » Acrobat Ants (Crematogaster)

Genus Crematogaster - Acrobat Ants

Which Ant Species? - Crematogaster Giant ant on UCI campus - Crematogaster Ants and a thing - Crematogaster cerasi - female Cremastogaster sp. maybe lineolata? - Crematogaster ashmeadi Crematogaster hespera? - Crematogaster Crematogaster? - Crematogaster St. Andrews Ants on Quercus laevis 2023 1 - Crematogaster Crematogaster Ants with larva prey - Crematogaster - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Formicoidea (Ants)
Family Formicidae (Ants)
Subfamily Myrmicinae
Tribe Crematogastrini
Genus Crematogaster (Acrobat Ants)
Other Common Names
Valentine ants
Cocktail ants
Explanation of Names
Crematogaster Lund, 1831
Misspelling of Greek kremastos 'hanging', 'suspended' + gaster 'stomach' (refers to the dorsal attachment of postpetiole to gaster)
Numbers
28 species in NA
Size
workers and males 2.5-3.5mm, queens about twice as long.
Identification
The unusual heart-shaped gaster (as viewed from above) and dorsal articulation of the postpetiole to the gaster are distinguishing features of this genus.
Range
cosmopolitan
Habitat
Northern and desert species soil-inhabiting, most species of the warm, humid Southeast arboreal or semi-arboreal.
Food
Honeydew, extrafloral nectar, scavenged protein from bird and other droppings, carrion.
Print References
Longino, J.T. 2003. The Crematogaster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) of Costa Rica. Zootaxa 151: 1-150.
Review of North American species by Buren 1968(1)
Internet References
live adult images of eleven Nearctic species plus several species from elsewhere (Alex Wild, mymecos.net)
key to species of Crematogaster found in Mississippi and Alabama (Mississippi State U.)
Works Cited
1.A review of the species of Crematogaster, sensu stricto, in North America (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Part II. Descriptions of ne
Buren, W.F. 1968. Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society: 3: 91-121.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 12 September, 2005 - 4:35pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, James C. Trager, v belov, Edward Ruden, PaleoJon
Last updated 21 February, 2021 - 12:01pm

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