Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Formicidae Rank Genus | Phylum Arthropoda Order Hymenoptera Subfamily Myrmicinae | |
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Similar Calyptomyrmex, Poecilomyrma, Ancyridris, Eutetramorium | ||
Dicroaspis is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae.
Contents
Distribution
Known from central Africa, the genus contains two species. However, due to the little material available, they may represent variations the same species. A third hitherto undescribed species is known from Kakamega Forest, Kenya.
Description
The genus was first described by Emery (1908), but was reclassified a few years later as a subgenus of Calyptomyrmex by Emery (1915). The taxon was finally raised to genus rank by Bolton (1981). Workers are about 2.5–3 mm long and have small eyes. Their antennae with 11 segments can be used to separate Dicroaspis from the related and similar genus Calyptomyrmex. Little is known about their biology, but they appear to live in the leaf litter of rainforests.