Myrmecocystus (honeypot ants)

This group of approximately 35 described and undescribed species occurs in western North America, from Washington state south through Mexico. These ants typically occur in arid environments. Snelling (1976) divided Myrmecocystus into three subgenera: Endiodioctes, Eremnocystus, and Myrmecocystus. M. Endiodioctes ants are typically medium-sized, active, black and red ants active during the heat of the day. M. Eremnocystus ants are typically small, dark, ants active in morning and evening. M. Myrmecocystus ants are yellow, nocturnal ants. A recent mtDNA phylogeny by Kronauer et al sheds some light on the evolution of the group, and my work will extend this to more taxa and loci. So far, I have sequenced parts of 28S, 18S, ITS, long wavelength rhodopsin, wingless, UV opsin, arginase K, and cytochrome oxidase I for several (as many as 16) Myrmecocystus species, though only a subset of these contain sufficient variation to be useful. I have also begun taking morphological measurements for characters to map on the tree.

Snelling's dichotomous key is now available here. It links to each species page, where you can link to info on each species (download sequences from Genbank, link to pages at AntWeb, Myrmecos, or other websites, and get information on sequences acquired as part of this project). You can also directly go to a list of all the species to more directly go to the species pages. I have also created multi-access keys (similar to Lucid keys, but using modified open source software) for each subgenus: Endiodioctes, Eremnocystus, and subgenus Myrmecocystus.




key



Online key




allspeciespage



All species page (includes mapping)

In these ants' typical arid environment, temperature varies greatly, necessitating adaptation to the environment at the usual foraging time. By understanding the phylogeny of the group, we may examine how the associated behaviors and morphology coevolved. Using range maps from Snelling's revision of the group and the phylogenetic tree, we may investigate the biogeography of the group, including barriers potentially leading to speciation, range dispersal, etc.

I am currently working on a multiple gene phylogeny of all the species in this group to address questions like those above. This work will likely be completed by spring 2007. I am interested in collaboration with other workers, especially people interested in the ecology of this group. Please contact me at bcomeara@ucdavis.edu if interested.

I am still in need of specimens (ideally, preserved in ethanol) for many species. If you have any specimens you wouldn't mind me using, please send them to Brian O'Meara, 381 Briggs Hall, UC Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616. Though all specimens will be useful, species I am particularly in need of are:

Links to Myrmecocystus information:

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