Stereomyrmex: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

Genus of ants

Stereomyrmex is a genus of myrmicine ants. Two of the described species are known from only a single worker, making this one of the rarest groups of ants in the world.^[2]

The single specimen of S. anderseni was caught in a pitfall trap, and nothing is known about its biology.^{[citation needed]}

Stereomyrmex is probably the sister taxon to Romblonella. Closely related genera are Leptothorax and Cardiocondyla.^[3]

Stereomyrmex dispar is 3.2 mm long and black, with yellowish brown mandibles, antennae, legs and terminal segments of gaster. S. anderseni is only 2 mm long, has a very different petiolar and postpetiolar structure and is paler in color.^[3]

Stereomyrmex dispar has been described from a single worker, taken in 1933 on Bellona Island, Solomon Islands; no other specimen has since been found, and it is unlikely that the species is truly endemic to Bellona. S. anderseni is known from a single worker as well.^[3] S. horni was collected under rocks in Sri Lanka.^[4]

The genus was originally named in honor of Maurice Willows Jr., who collected the type specimen of S. dispar.^[5] S. anderseni was collected by A.N. Andersen. S. horni was collected by W. Horn.^{[citation needed]}