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Ants of Zihuatanejo

FAMILY FORMICIDAE

Twig Ants (Unknown Species)
Pseudomyrmex (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

-Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

-Superfamily Formicoidea

-Ants (Family Formicidae)

-Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae

-Twig Ants (Genus Pseudomyrmex)

-Gracilis-group Twig Ants (Complex Pseudomyrmex gracilis)


Pseudomyrmex twig ants are a group of slender, arboreal ants within the genus Pseudomyrmex, known for nesting in hollow twigs, stems, and thorns in trees and shrubs. They are characterized by their long, slender bodies, narrow waists, and elongated legs. Their body structure is more streamlined and wasp-like than most other ant species. Pseudomyrmex twig ants are omnivores, foraging for both plant-based food like nectar, honeydew, and insect prey. They are active during the day and are fast and agile hunters, often feeding on small arthropods.


Diet

  • Omnivorous, feeding on nectar, extrafloral nectar, honeydew from sap-feeding insects, small arthropods, insect eggs, pollen, and dead insects.

  • Many species actively prey on caterpillars and other herbivorous insects.

  • Species associated with acacia trees obtain much of their nutrition from Beltian bodies (protein-rich food bodies) and nectar produced by the host plant.

Range

  • The genus Pseudomyrmex is distributed from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America, extending to Argentina.

  • Numerous species occur throughout Mexico, including the Pacific coast of Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region.

  • Greatest diversity occurs in tropical forests.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, thorn scrub, mangroves, secondary forests, woodland edges, and savannas.

  • Most species are arboreal, nesting in hollow twigs, dead branches, plant stems, tree cavities, and hollow acacia thorns.

  • Frequently forage on vegetation, rarely descending to the ground.

Size

  • Worker length: 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in)

  • Queen length: 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in)

  • Colonies typically contain a few hundred to several thousand workers.

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