Cephalotini

Cephalotini
Cephalotini
Cephalotes atratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Cephalotini
Genera

Cephalotes
Eucryptocerus
Procryptocerus
Zacryptocerus

Cephalotini is a tribe of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Although they are wingless, biologists have observed them gliding.[1] They will glide back to the trunk of their tree, which is much safer than the ground or water below. They are among a number of groups of gliding ants. They feed mainly on nectar and avian excretion.

References

  • Sanders, Robert (2005). "Discovery of gliding ants shows wingless flight has arisen throughout the animal kingdom"
  • Yurman, D. and Dominguez-Bello, M.D. (1993). "Bacteria Present in the Gut of Two Neotropical Cephalotini Ants, Cephalotes atratus and Zacryptocerus cf. pusillus, Folia Microbiologica. Vol. 38, No. 6 Springer Netherlands pp. 515-518