Romblonella Explained

Romblonella is a genus of myrmicine ants.

Systematics

Romblonella is probably the sister taxon to Stereomyrmex. Closely related genera are Leptothorax and Cardiocondyla.[1]

Biology

Very little is known about these uncommon ants. Most species were found to nest in twigs on trees and to forage on low vegetation.[2]

Description

Workers of R. opaca are about 4 mm long. They have a small sting. R. opaca was described from four specimens found on Romblon Island, Philippines, by Wheeler (1935).[3] However, the species had already been described by F. Smith in 1861 as Myrmica opaca, which had been collected at Tondano, Sulawesi by Alfred Russel Wallace.[4]

R. elysii workers are 2 mm long. They were originally described as Crematogaster from a few workers from the Solomon Islands.[5] R. heatwolei workers are almost 4 mm long.[1]

Only for R. palauensis and R. heatwolei have males been described.[1]

Distribution

Romblonella is found from the Philippines south through New Guinea, with one species known from Australia. The distribution stretches to the islands of the western South Pacific.

Name

The genus is named after the locality where the type species was found.

Species

References

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Taylor, Robert W. (1991): Notes on the ant genera Romblonella and Willowsiella, with comments on their affinities, and the first descriptions of Australian species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Psyche 97: 281-298. PDF
  2. Australian Ants Online: Genus Romblonella
  3. Wheeler, William M. (1935): Two new genera of myrmicine ants from Papua and the Philippines. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 15: 1-9. PDF
  4. Smith 1861: 47
  5. Mann 1919: 319
  6. length c. 3 mm, as Tetramorium scrobiferum, Emery 1897: 587