''Proformica'' is a
genus of
ants 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 subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Formicinae.
The genus is known from the
Palearctic realm, from
Mongolia through
Central Asia to
Spain.
Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single
queen (
monogyne
The gyne (, from Greek γυνή, "woman") is the primary reproductive female caste of social insects (especially ants, wasps, and bees of order Hymenoptera, as well as termites). Gynes are those destined to become queens, whereas female workers a ...
) or multiple
ergatogyne queens. Unique in the
tribe Formicini, some species have specialized workers ("
honeypot ants") gorged with food; they function as living storage containers.
Parasite host
Four species are host to
obligate {{wiktionary, obligate
As an adjective, obligate means "by necessity" (antonym ''facultative'') and is used mainly in biology in phrases such as:
* Obligate aerobe, an organism that cannot survive without oxygen
* Obligate anaerobe, an organism that ...
slave-making ants in the genus ''
Rossomyrmex
''Rossomyrmex'' is a genus of slave-making ant in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus consists of four species, each with a single host from the genus '' Proformica'', and has a very wide range of distribution from China to southeastern Spain ...
'', with each species forming a
coevolving pair:
*''
Rossomyrmex proformicarum''–''
Proformica epinotalis''
*''
Rossomyrmex quandratinodum''–''Proformica'' sp.
*''
Rossomyrmex anatolicus''–''
Proformica korbi''
*''
Rossomyrmex minuchae''–''
Proformica longiseta''
Species
*''
Proformica alaica''
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1926
*''
Proformica buddhaensis''
Ruzsky, 1915
*''
Proformica caucasea''
(Santschi, 1925)
*''
Proformica coriacea
''Proformica'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from the Palearctic realm, from Mongolia through Central Asia to Spain. Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single queen (m ...
''
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927
*''
Proformica dolichocephala''
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927
*''
Proformica epinotalis''
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927
*''
Proformica ferreri''
Bondroit, 1918
*''
Proformica flavosetosa''
(Viehmeyer, 1922)
*''
Proformica jacoti''
(Wheeler, 1923)
*''
Proformica kaszabi''
Dlussky, 1969
*''
Proformica kobachidzei''
Arnol'di, 1968
*''
Proformica korbi''
(Emery, 1909)
*''
Proformica kosswigi''
(Donisthorpe, 1950)
*''
Proformica kusnezowi
''Proformica'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from the Palearctic realm, from Mongolia through Central Asia to Spain. Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single ...
''
(Santschi, 1928)
*''
Proformica longiseta''
Collingwood, 1978
*''
Proformica mongolica''
(Emery, 1901)
*''
Proformica nasuta''
(Nylander, 1856)
*''
Proformica nitida''
Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1923
*''
Proformica oculatissima''
(Forel, 1886)
*''
Proformica ossetica''
Dubovikoff, 2005
*''
Proformica pilosiscapa''
Dlussky, 1969
*''
Proformica seraphimi''
Tarbinsky, 1970
*''
Proformica similis
''Proformica'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from the Palearctic realm, from Mongolia through Central Asia to Spain. Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single queen ( m ...
''
Dlussky, 1969
*''
Proformica splendida
''Proformica'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from the Palearctic realm, from Mongolia through Central Asia to Spain. Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single queen ( m ...
''
Dlussky, 1965
*''
Proformica striaticeps
''Proformica'' is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from the Palearctic realm, from Mongolia through Central Asia to Spain. Colonies are small, generally containing a few hundred individuals, with a single queen ( m ...
''
(Forel, 1911)
See also
*''
Rossomyrmex
''Rossomyrmex'' is a genus of slave-making ant in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus consists of four species, each with a single host from the genus '' Proformica'', and has a very wide range of distribution from China to southeastern Spain ...
'', genus of ant that parasitizes ''Proformica'' species
References
External links
*
Formicinae
Ant genera
{{formicinae-stub