''Centromyrmex'' is a

pantropical A pantropical ("all tropics") distribution is one which covers tropical regions of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Examples of species include caecilians, modern sirenians and the plant genera ''Acacia'' and ''Bacopa''. ''Neotropical' ...

, though mainly

Afrotropical The Afrotropical realm is one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Sub-Saharan Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It was formerly known as the Ethiopi ...

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

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 ...

s in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Ponerinae Ponerinae, the ponerine ants, is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group, with about 1,600 species in 47 extant genera, including '' Dinoponera gigantea'' - one of the world's largest species of ant. Mated workers have replac ...

. This

ponerine Ponerinae, the ponerine ants, is a subfamily of ants in the Poneromorph subfamilies group, with about 1,600 species in 47 extant genera, including ''Dinoponera gigantea'' - one of the world's largest species of ant. Mated workers have replaced ...

was recorded for the first time in

French Guiana French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...

and the most northerly point of recording was in Costa Rica. The specimens reported here were collected in a region of

Amazon Forest The Amazon rainforest, also called the Amazon jungle or Amazonia, is a Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin ...

with flight

interception In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...

traps.

Biology

They are predatory on

termite Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf litter, and Humus, soil humus. They are dist ...

s, where a group hunting strategy may be employed, or may prey more generally on invertebrates in the upper soil layer of forests. Little is known about their biology, but workers lack eyes and are well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle by way of burrowing. They also are equipped with short, spiny, and powerful legs. Nest sites are usually found near or even inside of termite nests.

Species

*'' Centromyrmex alfaroi'' Emery, 1890 *'' Centromyrmex angolensis'' Santschi, 1937 *'' Centromyrmex bequaerti'' (Forel, 1913) *'' Centromyrmex brachycola'' (Roger, 1861) *'' Centromyrmex decessor'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex ereptor'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex feae'' (Emery, 1889) *'' Centromyrmex fugator'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex gigas'' Forel, 1911 *'' Centromyrmex hamulatus'' (Karavaiev, 1925) *'' Centromyrmex longiventris'' Santschi, 1919 *'' Centromyrmex praedator'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex raptor'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex secutor'' Bolton & Fisher, 2008 *'' Centromyrmex sellaris'' Mayr, 1896

References

External links

* Ponerinae Ant genera Fauna of the Pantropical realm {{Ponerinae-stub