''Dinomyrmex'' is a monotypic genus of
ant
Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cre ...
containing the species ''Dinomyrmex gigas'' or giant forest ant. ''D. gigas'' is a large species of ant, native to
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
n forests. It is one of the largest ants in existence, measuring in at for normal workers, and for the soldiers.
Honeydew makes up 90% of their diet, but they will also consume insects and bird droppings. The ant is an effective forager, utilizing both efficient communication and recruitment. A handful of these ants may meet at night to engage in what has been observed to be
ritual battle. These fights can continue for several months.
Colonies consist of typically about 7,000 workers, distributed unevenly among several nests. There are two types of workers, with the larger ones almost three times as heavy. They forage mainly at night, however, some workers will be outside the nest during the day.
Distribution
This species is found in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
n
rain forest
Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...
s from
Sumatra
Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...
,
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
,
Borneo
Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...
to
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
.
See also
* ''
Dinoponera gigantea
''Dinoponera gigantea'' is a species of ant belonging to the family Ant, Formicidae.
It is called taramãçu or uitsi in the Kwaza language of Rondônia, Brazil.
Description
''Dinoponera gigantea'' is one of the world's largest species of ant. ...
''
* ''
Titanomyrma
''Titanomyrma'' is a genus of extinct giant ants which lived during the Eocene. The type species ''Titanomyrma gigantea'' and the smaller ''Titanomyrma simillima'' are known from the Eocene of Germany, while the third species ''Titanomyrma lubei' ...
''
References
* Ants of Borneo
A briefing on the life history of the giant forest ant ''Camponotus gigas''* Pfeiffer, Marti
External links
*
Formicinae
Insects described in 1802
Hymenoptera of Asia
{{formicinae-stub