Subfamily MYRMICINAE |
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Crematogaster laeviuscula , full face view of worker
(click image to enlarge) Photo courtesy of http://www.antweb.org/ |
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Crematogaster laeviuscula, profile view of a worker. (click image to enlarge) Photo courtesy of http://www.antweb.org/ |
Ants in the genus Crematogaster are often referred to as acrobat ants because of their propensity to arc the gaster upward and over the alitrunk in a manner that resembles a contortionist or acrobat. They are small, monomorphic ants. Workers have an 11-segmented antenna, the presence of variably long propodeal spines, a flattened petiole, and a somewhat heart-shaped gaster. The postpetiole is attached to the dorsal surface of the gaster, and this characteristic will differentiate this genus from other genera in our area. Crematogaster laeviuscula is typically considered to be a western species; however, General and Thompson (2007) reported it from Arkansas. It would not likely be found further east. This species is bicolored orangish-red with a dark brown gaster. It has relatively long propodeal spines. The pronotal pleurae is shiny and lacks obvious sculpture. This species is very similiar to C. pilosa, which is common in the eastern U.S., but differs by having somewhat shorter propodeal spines and less numerous erect setae on the pronotal dorsum. Literature Cited General, D. M. and L. C. Thompson. 2007. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Arkansas Post National Memorial. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science 61: 59-64. Links |
