Polyergus
E407120
Polyergus is a genus of so-called “slave-making” ants known for raiding other ant colonies to capture workers that will serve their own nests.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Polyergus canonical | 1 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ant genus
ⓘ
taxon ⓘ |
| behavior |
dulotic (slave-making) raiding
ⓘ
obligate social parasite ⓘ raids nests of other ant species ⓘ |
| belongsTo | Formicinae genera ⓘ |
| class | Insecta ⓘ |
| colonyDependence | depends on captured workers of other species for brood care and foraging ⓘ |
| colonyStructure | mixed-species worker force (Polyergus plus host species workers) ⓘ |
| commonName | slave-making ants ⓘ |
| communication | uses chemical cues during raids ⓘ |
| describedBy | Pierre André Latreille ⓘ |
| distribution |
Asia
ⓘ
Europe ⓘ Palearctic realm ⓘ
surface form:
Holarctic region
North America ⓘ |
| ecologicalRole | social parasite of other ant communities ⓘ |
| family | Formicidae NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| foraging | relies on host workers for foraging ⓘ |
| genusEtymology | name derived from Greek meaning "much-working" or "very active" ⓘ |
| hasCharacteristic |
highly specialized mandibles for combat rather than nest maintenance
ⓘ
reduced ability of workers to feed themselves without host workers ⓘ |
| hasLifeHistoryTrait |
obligate dependence on host workers throughout colony life
ⓘ
raids primarily target brood (larvae and pupae) of host species ⓘ |
| hostIntegration | captured brood eclose as workers that adopt Polyergus colony odor ⓘ |
| kingdom | Animalia ⓘ |
| nesting | nests usually located in soil ⓘ |
| nonReproductiveCastes | workers ⓘ |
| notableSpecies |
Polyergus breviceps
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Polyergus lucidus NERFINISHED ⓘ Polyergus mexicanus NERFINISHED ⓘ Polyergus rufescens NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| order | Hymenoptera NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| parasitizes | Formica ⓘ |
| phylum | Arthropoda ⓘ |
| reproductiveCastes |
males
ⓘ
queens ⓘ |
| reproductiveStrategy | queen usurps host Formica colony ⓘ |
| researchUse | model organism for studying social parasitism in ants ⓘ |
| scientificField | myrmecology ⓘ |
| subfamily | Formicinae NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| taxonRank | genus ⓘ |
| tribe |
Attini
ⓘ
surface form:
Formicini
|
| typeSpecies | Polyergus rufescens NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| workerBehavior | workers specialize in raiding and cannot perform normal colony tasks effectively ⓘ |
| workerMorphology | workers have sickle-shaped mandibles adapted for fighting and carrying brood ⓘ |
| yearDescribed | 1804 ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.