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.[2]

Leptanilla
L. swani queen and worker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Tribe: Leptanillini
Genus: Leptanilla
Emery, 1870
Diversity[1]
44 species
Synonyms
  • Leptomesites Kutter, 1948
  • Phaulomyrma Wheeler & Wheeler, 1930
  • Noonilla Petersen, 1968
  • Yavnella Kugler, 1987
  • Scyphodon Brues, 1925

Biology

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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.[2]

Description

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Leptanilla workers have no eyes, and are pale, yellow, and small.[2]

Distribution

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Several species are found in North Africa, L. doderoi and L. revelierei in Corsica and Sardinia, L. havilandi and L. butteli in the Malay Peninsula, L. santschii in Java.[3] L. swani and L. voldemort are the only two Australian species that have been described.[2][4]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Leptanilla". AntCat. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Genus Leptanilla Australian Ants Online
  3. ^ Wheeler (1932): An Australian Leptanilla. Psyche 39: 53-58. PDF
  4. ^ Gartner, Annelies; Australia, University of Western. "New species of ant found pottering under the Pilbara named after Voldemort". phys.org. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ Zoo Bank
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