Genus Dorymyrmex (Dolichoderinae)

• Dorymyrmex Mayr, G. 1866a: 494 . Type species: Dorymyrmex flavescens Mayr, by monotypy.
• Psammomyrma Forel, 1912i: 43 (as subgenus of Dorymyrmex) . Type species: Dorymyrmex planidens Mayr, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1913a: 82. Synonymy: Forel, 1913b: 350; Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 93 .
• Conomyrma Forel, 1913b: 350 (in text, as subgenus of Dorymyrmex) . Type species: Prenolepis pyramica Roger, by subsequent designation of Santschi, 1922c: 365. Conomyrma raised to genus: Kusnezov, 1952j: 429. Synonymy: Brown, W.L. 1973b: 179 (Conomyrma provisional junior synonym of Dorymyrmex) ; Shattuck, 1992c: 77 (Conomyrma junior synonym of Dorymyrmex) .
• Araucomyrmex Gallardo, 1919b: 249. Type species: Dorymyrmex tener Mayr, by original designation. Araucomyrmex subgenus of Conomyrma: Santschi, 1922c: 365. Subgenus of Dorymyrmex: Kusnezov, 1952j: 428. Revived status as genus: Kusnezov, 1959: 51; maintained as genus: Kempf, 1972b: 25. Provisional junior synonym of Dorymyrmex: Brown, W.L. 1973b: 178. Status as genus: Snelling, 1975: 9. Synonymy: Snelling, 1981: 402 (Araucomyrmex junior synonym of Conomyrma) ; Shattuck, 1992c: 77 (Conomyrma junior synonym of Dorymyrmex) .
• Ammomyrma Santschi, 1922c: 365 (as subgenus of Dorymyrmex) . Type species: Dorymyrmex exsanguis Forel, by original designation. Synonymy: Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 93 (Ammomyrma junior synonym of Araucomyrmex) ; Snelling, 1981: 402 (Araucomyrmex junior synonym of Conomyrma) ; Shattuck, 1992c: 77 (Conomyrma junior synonym of Dorymyrmex) .
• Biconomyrma Kusnezov, 1952j: 429 (as subgenus of Conomyrma) . Type species: Dorymyrex pyramicus brunneus, by subsequent designation of Forel. Kusnezov, 1959: 51. Raised to genus: Kusnezov, 1959: 51. The type species, Dorymyrex pyramicus var. brunneus Forel, is now known as D. brunneus Forel. Synonymy: Smith, M.R. 1958c: 140 (Biconomyrma junior synonym of Conomyrma) ; Kempf, 1972b: 78 (Biconomyrma junior synonym of Conomyrma) ; Shattuck, 1992c: 77 (Conomyrma junior synonym of Dorymyrmex) .
• Spinomyrma Kusnezov, 1952j: 429 (diagnosis in key, as subgenus of Dorymyrmex) . Type species: Dorymyrmex alboniger Forel, by subsequent designation of Kusnezov, 1959: 51. Spinomyrma raised to genus: Kusnezov, 1959: 51. Subgenus of Dorymyrmex: Kempf, 1972b: 100. Synonymy: Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 93 .

• OVERVIEW.   Dorymyrmex is a New World genus consisting of 50 species. The Nearctic forms construct nests in the soil which are surmounted by irregular or crater like mounds of soil. They are usually found in open sunny areas in situations where other ant species find conditions intolerable (Smith, D.R. 1979: 1420). The workers are predaceous general foragers. They are active and aggressive and emit a fluid with a disagreeable odor. These ants are common and often abundant in the southern USA. Unfortunately, their taxonomy has been confused and unstable. See Snelling, 1995a for a discussion.
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  New World.
• NOMENCLATURE.   Prior to 1992, the Nearctic species of Dorymyrmex were placed in Conomyrma.
• RECOGNITION.   Maxillary palp with third segment elongate, about equal to or longer than combined lengths of segments 4-6. Psammophore usually present. Mandible with apical tooth enlarged, much larger than the preapical tooth. Anterior clypeal margin with numerous elongate, curved hairs that extend beyond (rarely just to) the apices of the closed mandibles. Propodeum with a prominent conical or pyramid-shaped process at juncture of basal and declivitous faces.



Figure of Dorymyrmex from Smith, M.R. 1965.


• SIMILAR GENERA.   The cone-shaped structure on the propodeum clearly separates Dorymmyrex from all other Nearctic dolichoderines. The shape of the propodeum could lead to confusion with the formicine genus Lasius. In Lasius, the propodeum forms a broad, elevated ridge rather than a cone-shaped process. Lasius also has an acidopore at the tip of its gaster, psammophore absent, and maxillary palps with third segment not elongate.
• SPECIES IDENTIFICATION.   Snelling, 1995a presents a key to species. However, it is difficult to use, and identifications should be considered provisional unless they have been compared to reliably identified material.
• TRIBE.  Dolichoderini.
• REVISIONS.   Trager, 1988a: 11–29 (southeastern USA) .— Snelling, 1995a: 1–14 (Nearctic, key to species, detailed taxonomic history) .
• TAXONOMY.   Gallardo, 1916b: 1–130 (Argentina, out of date) .— Santschi, 1922c: 365.— Smith, M.R. 1947f: 597–598, pl. 17, fig. 64 (diagnosis of w., figure (lateral view) of w. as Dorymyrmex (Conomyrma)) .— Creighton, 1950a: 346–350, pl. 47, figs. 1–4 (figures (lateral view) of w.q.m, wing) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1951: 183 (larva) .— Kusnezov, 1952j: 427–448 (discussion of Dorymyrmex and Conomyrma, brief summary of Neotropical and Nearctic species) .— Kusnezov, 1959: 38–51 (southern Neotropical) .— Snelling, 1973b: 1–6 (in the USA) .— Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 93 (Chile) .— Johnson, C. 1989b: 179–194 (Nearctic) .— Shattuck, 1992c: 77–85, figs. 64–71 (description of w.q.m., diagnosis of l., distribution map, figures (full face and lateral view) of w.q.m.) .— Bolton, 1994: figs. 30, 31 (SEMs (full face and lateral view) of w.) .— Shattuck, 1994: 73–90 (catalog) .

• bicolor. Dorymyrmex pyramicus var. bicolor Wheeler, W.M. 1906i: 342 (w.q.) . [USA, AZ, Maricopa Co.; MCZ] Gallardo, 1916b: 63 (q.) . Combination in D. (Conomyrma): Gallardo, 1916b: 63; in D. (Biconomyrma): Kusnezov, 1952j: 430; in Conomyrma: Snelling, 1973b: 4; in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85. Subspecies of pyramicus: Creighton, 1950a: 349. Raised to species: Kusnezov, 1952j: 430; Cole, A.C. 1958b: 130.

• DISTRIBUTION. Western TX to southern CA; Mexico.
• TAXONOMY. Cole, A.C. 1942: 372 .— Creighton, 1950a: 349 .— Wilson, 1958e: 76 .— Johnson, C. 1989b: 192 .— Shattuck, 1992c: 77–85, figs. 64–71 (description of w.q.m., diagnosis of l., distribution map, figures (full face and lateral views) of w.q.m.) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Eckert & Mallis, 1937: 19.— Mallis, 1941: 76 (distribution in CA) .— Cole, A.C. 1966b: 18 (Nevada Test Site) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973e: 103–104.— Bernstein, R.A. 1979: table 2 (temperature range for foraging) .— Allred, 1982: 458–459 (distribution in UT, as Conomyrma bicolor) .— Van Pelt, 1983: table 1 (habitat and frequency in the Chisos Mts., Texas) .— Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 24 (distribution in TX) .— Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 267, 380, 417, 464 (temperature range for foraging) .

• bossutus. Conomyrma bossuta Trager, 1988a: 15, figs. 1, 8 (w.q., figures (full face view of head, lateral view of mesosoma) of w.) . [USA, FL, Alachua Co.] Combination in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85.

• TAXONOMY. Johnson, C. 1989b: 192 .

• bureni. Conomyrma bureni Trager, 1988a: 19, figs. 2, 9, 19, 20 (w.q.) . [USA, FL, Alachua Co.; Florida State Arthropod Coll., LACM, MCZ, USNM, Archbold Biological Station ] Junior synonym of flavus: Johnson, C. 1989b: 187. Revived from synonymy: Snelling, 1995a: 7.
• edeni. Conomyrma edeni Tryon, E.H. 1986: 340 (attributed to Buren) . Nomen nudum. Synonymy: Trager, 1988a: 19 .

• DISTRIBUTION. MD, VA south to FL, west to MS, LA, TX (Snelling, 1995a: 7).
• TAXONOMY. Snelling, 1995a: 7, figs, 10–12 (figures (full face view) of w.q., and lateral view of head and mesosoma of w.) .

• elegans. Conomyrma elegans Trager, 1988a: 21, figs. 3, 10 (figures (full face view of head, lateral view of mesosoma) of w.) (w.q.) [USA, FL, Highlands Co.; USNM] Combination in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85.

• DISTRIBUTION. The known range of this species is only a few square miles although it is abundant within this area (Trager, 1988a: 22).
• TAXONOMY. Johnson, C. 1989b: 191 (in key) .

• flavopectus. Dorymyrmex pyramicus subsp. flavopectus Smith, M.R. 1944d: 15 (w.) . [USA, FL, Highlands Co.; USNM] Combination in Conomyrma: Kusnezov, 1952j: 430; in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85. Raised to species: Kusnezov, 1952j: 430.

• DISTRIBUTION. FL, southern AL and MS.
• TAXONOMY. Smith, M.R. 1947f: pl. 17, fig. 64 (figure (lateral view) of w. as Dorymyrmex (Conomyrma) pyramicus flavopectus) .— Creighton, 1950a: 350 .— Snelling, 1973b: 4 .— Buren, Nickerson & Thompson, 1976: 306.— Trager, 1988a: 22–23, figs. 4, 11 (figures (full face view of head, lateral view of mesosoma) of w.) .— Johnson, C. 1989b: 192 (in key) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 216.

• flavus. Dorymyrmex flavus McCook, 1880: 188, figs. a–c. [USA, TX, Ward Co.; USNM, BMNH, LACM, MCZ] Johnson, C. 1989b: 190 (q.) . Combination in Conomyrma: Kempf, 1972b: 80; in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85. Variety / subspecies of pyramicus: Mayr, 1886d: 433; Forel, 1911g: 285. Junior synonym of pyramicus: Creighton, 1950a: 348; of insanus: Snelling, 1973b: 5. Revived from synonymy, revived status as species: Johnson, C. 1989b: 187. Note that the correct year of the original citation is 'McCook, 1880' not 'McCook, 1879' as in Bolton, 1995b: 182.

• DISTRIBUTION. FL, TX, CA.
• TAXONOMY. Snelling, 1995a: 2, 5–7, figs. 7–9 (figures (full face view) of w.q., and lateral view of head and mesosoma of w.) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 25 (distribution in TX) .— Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 443.

• grandulus. Prenolepis (Nylanderia) parvula var. grandula Forel, 1922b: 98 (w.) . [USA] Trager, 1988a: 24 (q.) . Combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925d: 222; Creighton, 1950a: 409; in Conomyrma: Trager, 1984b: 64; in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85. Junior synonym of Paratrechina parvula: Creighton, 1950a: 409. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Trager, 1984b: 64.

• TAXONOMY. Johnson, C. 1989b: 192 (in key) .

• insanus. Formica insana Buckley, S.B. 1866: 165 (w.q.) . [USA, TX, Howard Co.; USNM, BMNH, LACM, MCZ, USNM] Emery, 1895d: 331 (m., as D. pyramicus Roger) . Combination in Dorymyrmex: McCook, 1880: 185; in D. (Conomyrma): Smith, M.R. 1951c: 837; in Conomyrma: Snelling, 1973b: 4; in Dorymyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 85. Junior synonym of pyramicus: Mayr, 1886d: 433. Revived from synonymy as variety of pyrmaicus: Santschi, 1920d: 381. Junior synonym of pyramicus: Creighton, 1950a: 348. Revived from synonymy as species: Snelling, 1973b: 5. Note that the correct citation is 'McCook, 1880' not 'McCook, 1879' as in Bolton, 1995b: 182.
• antillana. Dorymyrmex pyramica subsp. brunnea var. antillana Forel, 1911e: 306 (w.) . Unavailable name. [Antilles Island] Synonymy: Snelling, 1973b: 5 .

• DISTRIBUTION. Central TX north to KS and westward and southward to southern CA and northern Mexico (Snelling, 1995a: 5).
• NOMENCLATURE. Pyramid ant. The limits of this species have changed several times in recent years. See Snelling, 1995a for the most recent treatment and discussion of its status.
• TAXONOMY. Smith, M.R. 1937: 861, 864 .— Cole, A.C. 1940b: 61.— Cole, A.C. 1942: 371 .— Buren, 1944a: 291 .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1951: 183 (larva) .— Snelling, 1973b: 5 (syn.) .— Buren, Nickerson & Thompson, 1976: 306.— Snelling, 1995a: 1, 3–5, figs. 1–3 (description w.q., quote of original description by Buckley, 1866; figure (full face view) of w.q., and lateral view of mesosoma of w.) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Wheeler, W.M. 1910b: 146, 210, 205, 426.— Smith, M.R. 1924b: 82.— Eckert & Mallis, 1937: 19.— Dennis, 1938: 293, 305.— Carter, 1962b: 191–192 (distribution in NC, natural history) .— Gregg, R.E. 1963: 432–434 (brief natural hisotry, distribution in CO) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1963: 155–157.— Smith, M.R. 1965: 56–57 (economic importance) .— Blum & Warter, 1966: 774–779 (alarm and digging behavior; isolation of 2-heptanone) .— Cole, A.C. 1966b: 18 (Nevada Test Site) .— Metcalf & Metcalf, 1970: 34–35 (effects of isomeres of 2-heptanone on alarm behavior) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973e: 105–106.— Bernstein, R.A. 1979: table 2 (temperature range for foraging) .— Allred, 1982: 459–460 (distribution in UT, as Conomyrma insanus) .— Van Pelt, 1983: table 1 (habitat and frequency in the Chisos Mts., Texas) .— MacKay, Lowrie, et. al. 1988: 101–102 (occurrence in NM) .— Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 25–26 (distribution in TX) .— Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 216, 267, 380, 464 (temperature range for foraging, glandular source of trail phermone) .— Rojas-Fernández & Fragoso, 1994: 65 (diagnosis of w., habitat) .

• lipan. Dorymyrmex lipan Snelling, 1995a: 8, figs. 16, 17 (figures (full face view and lateral view of head and mesosoma) of w.) (w.) [USA, TX, Brewster Co.; LACM, BMNH, MCZ, USNM]

• DISTRIBUTION. Known only from the type collection.

• nigra. Dorymyrmex pyramicus var. nigra Pergande, 1896: 871 (w.) . [Mexico] Forel, 1912i: 36 (q.) . Combination in Dorymyrmex: Creighton, 1950a: 349; in Conomyrma: Kempf, 1972b: 79; in Dorymyrmex: Johnson, C. 1989b: 187. Junior synonym of pyramicus: Creighton, 1950a: 349; of insanus: Snelling, 1973b: 5; of flavus: Johnson, C. 1989b: 187. Revived status as species: Snelling, 1995a: 5. Note that the original citation is not 'Pergande, 1895' as in Smith, D.R. 1979: 1420.

• DISTRIBUTION. Mexico.

• paiute. Dorymyrmex paiute Snelling, 1995a: 9, figs. 14, 23 (figures (full face view and lateral view of mesosoma) of w.) (w.) [USA, UT, Washington Co.; LACM, MBNH, MCZ, USNM]

• DISTRIBUTION. Known only from the type collection.

• reginicula. Conomyrma reginicula Trager, 1988a: 27, figs. 7, 14, 17, 18 (w.q.) . [USA, FL, Alachua Co.] Junior synonym of insanus: Johnson, C. 1989b: 185. Revived from synonymy: Snelling, 1995a: 7.

• DISTRIBUTION. FL.
• TAXONOMY. Snelling, 1995a: 7, figs, 15 (figure (full face view) of w.) .

• smithi. Dorymyrmex pyramicus var. smithi Cole, A.C. 1936b: 120 (w.) . [USA, NB, Lincoln Co.USNM] Combination in D. (Conomyrma): Creighton, 1950a: 349; in Conomyrma: Snelling, 1973b: 4. Junior synonym of pyramicus: Creighton, 1950a: 349; of insanus: Snelling, 1973b: 5. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Snelling, 1995a: 7.
• medeis. Conomyrma medeis Trager, 1988a: 27, figs. 6, 13, 15, 16 (w.q.) . [USA, FL, Alachua Co.] Junior synonym of insanus: Johnson, C. 1989b: 185. Synonymy: Snelling, 1995a: 7 .

• DISTRIBUTION. ND to eastern CO and NM, east through TX to FL and NC. The westward extent of the range is uncertain (Snelling, 1995a: 8).
• TAXONOMY. Snelling, 1995a: 7–8, figs. 4–6 (figures (full face view) of w.q., and lateral view of mesosoma of w.) .

• wheeleri. Conomyrma (Biconomyrma) wheeleri Kusnezov, 1952j: 438 (w.) . [USA, AZ, Pima Co.] Junior synonym of insanus: Snelling, 1973b: 5. Revived from synonymy: Snelling, 1995a: 8.

• TAXONOMY. Snelling, 1995a: 9, figs 13, 18 (figures (full face view of head and lateral view of mesosoma) of w.) .