Cephalotes

The genus inhabits the tropics and subtropics of Central and South America , three species are known in the south of the USA ( C. varians - Florida, C. texanus - Texas, C. rowheri - south of Arizona) ^[1] .

Flat-bodied tree ants. Very small and medium size, length from 3 to 14 mm. Representatives of the genus have a special groove in which the scapus is placed. In its posterolateral part there are eyes half hidden in these grooves. Antennae consist of 11 segments, without mace. Some species have special protective spikes or long teeth on the head and chest ^[1] .

Most species have a separate caste of soldiers with a flattened head, which allows them to close, like a cork, the entrances to the nest. This caste is characterized by dimorphic large soldiers with a large concave head shield ( English the cephalic disc ) ^[2] , which they plug the entrance as a cork. This phenomenon has been called phragmosis ^[2] . In some species, the uterus has a similar cephalic disc. The cephalic disk has a very pronounced sculpture and is covered with a special thin layer (for example, in the species Cephalotes porrasi and Cephalotes setulifer ), which creates a protective camouflage ^[3] . There are also specialized setae on the disk, and the substance covering it is formed by the glands of the ants themselves ^[4] .

Species previously attributed to the genus Zacryptocerus (now this taxon is recognized as a synonym for the genus Cephalotes ) are characterized by relatively uniform polymorphic large soldiers. Their body is dorso-ventrally flattened. The edges of the mesosomes have teeth protruding on the sides ^[1] .

The number of ant families varies from several dozen workers ( Cephalotes texanus ) to 10,000 ( Cephalotes atratus ) ^{[5] [6]} .

Representatives of this genus are characteristic inhabitants of shrubs and trees. Populate the cavities and passages inside the wood created by xylophages , for example, woodcutter beetles . Able to parachute in the event of an accidental fall from a tree, flying directly onto the trunk of the same plant ^{[7] [8]} .

In general, these are slightly aggressive species of ants, which often coexist with other ants, using even common routes of movement ^[9] .

All species of the genus are characterized by the presence of heavy chitinized armor and dorso-ventrally flattened bodies. Clinging to the surface of the substrate, they become invisible and protected. Some species of the genus rely on chemical protection ^[10] .

Nutrition in general remains poorly researched. They are predators and collectors of carrion, they can also collect extraflower nectar , are found on protein and sugar sources and drops, on bird excrement, and also feed on plant pollen ^[11] .

There is evidence of trophobiotic relationships between the cicada Tragopa peruviana and the ants Cephalotes atratus . This species of ants is often found together with these cicadas that live on large leaves of the plants Isertia haenkeana and Vismia angusta . Cicadas secrete a sweet secret and are characterized by convergent adaptation in the general shape of the body and coloration as in the abdomen of C. atratus ^[12] .

The genus Cephalotes was first isolated in 1860 by the English entomologist F. Smith (1805–1879) and includes about 130 species, including about 15 minerals. The genus belongs to the tribe Cephalotini ( Myrmicinae ) ^[1] .

Synonyms

• Eucryptocerus kempf
• Zacryptocerus ashmead
• Harnedia smith
• Hypocryptocerus Wheeler
• Cryptocerus (Cryptocerus) Latreille
• Cyathocephalus emery
• Cryptocephalus latreille
• Exocryptocerus Vierbergen et Scheven
• Paracryptocerus emery
• Cyathomyrmex creighton
• Cryptocerus latreille
• Zacryptocerus wheeler

Views

• De Andrade, ML & Baroni Urbani, C. Diversity and adaptation in the ant genus Cephalotes, past and present (English) // Stuttg. Beitr. Naturkd. Ser. B (Geol. Palaontol.): Journal. - Stuttgart , 1999. - Vol. 271. - P. 1—889.
• Kempf, WW A taxonomic study on the ant tribe Cephalotini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Eng.) // Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro): Journal. - Rio de Janeiro , 1951. - Vol. 22. - P. 1-244.
• Kempf, WW New Studies of the ant tribe Cephalotini (Hym. Formicidae) (Eng.) // Stud. Entomol. (ns): log. - 1958. - Vol. 1. - P. 1-168.
• Wheeler, GC and J. Wheeler. The ant larvae of the myrmicine tribes Cataulacini and Cephalotini (English) // J. Wash. Acad. Sci. : magazine. - Washington , 1954. - Vol. 44. - P. 149-157.

• Ants of the genus Cephalotes
• AntWeb - Genus: Cephalotes Latreille, 1802
• Matt Simon Absurd Creature of the Week: World's Most Badass Ant Skydives, Uses Own Head as a Shield (04.18.2014). - About ants falling from a height to where they need to. Date of treatment January 7, 2015.