Scientific name Leptanilla Higher classification Ant Order Hymenopterans | Family Formicidae Rank Genus | |
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Similar Leptanillinae, Ant, Cryptopone, Probolomyrmex, Proceratium | ||
Leptanilla flight super slow motion
Leptanilla is a genus of ant in the subfamily Leptanillinae. Like other genera in this subfamily, the queen is fed by the hemolymph of their own larvae, which have specialized processes for this purpose.
Contents
- Leptanilla flight super slow motion
- Male leptanilla spa02 unfolding of the arolium of the hind leg dorsal view
- Biology
- Description
- Distribution
- References
Male leptanilla spa02 unfolding of the arolium of the hind leg dorsal view
Biology
Some species form colonies consisting of several hundred workers in the soil. They feed on small arthropods, including centipedes, and are rarely seen because they live underground and rarely come to the surface. In some species the queen is wingless, and new colonies form by budding from established colonies. Others have a nomadic life-style resembling that of army ants.
Description
Leptanilla workers have no eyes, and are pale, yellow, and small.
Distribution
Several species are found in North Africa, S. doderoi and S. revelierei in Corsica and Sardinia, S. havilandi and S. butteli in the Malay Peninsula, S. santschii in Java. S. swani is the only Australian species that has been described.
