Ant Glossary
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 9:56 pm
A
abdomen – includes the propodeum, petiole, and the gaster on an ant’s body [See also propodeum, petiole, and gaster]
Acheta domestica- scientific name of the species of cricket commonly used in the pet trade as a feeder insect. They are commonly fed by ant keepers to ants.
acrobat ant – ant belonging to the genus Crematogasternotorious for their heart shaped gasters, which bend over their heads and to the sides of their bodies when shooting formic acid for defense and attacking.
Adventures Among Ants – best-selling book on ants by highly acclaimed National Geographic writer and photographer Mark Moffet. The AntsCanada Ants Store interviewed Mark Moffet on The Amazing Ants of AntsCanadaYouTube channel regarding his book, experiences, career, and general thoughts.
alate- a reproductive male or female ant. They are born with wings. During nuptial flight they take to the air and mate. Males die shortly after mating, and females shed their wings becoming dealates and begin searching for a suitable location to found her colony as the queen.
allele- one of two or more forms of the DNA sequence of a particular gene.
alitrunk – name given to the mesosoma or the middle part of the body, or tagma, in ants. It bears the legs and in alates, the wings. In Apocrita Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants), it consists of the three thoracic segments and the first abdominal segment (the propodeum). [See mesosoma]
Amazing Ants of AntsCanada – The popular YouTube Channel [Youtube.com/AntsCanada] created on July 14th, 2009 which eventually gave rise to The AntsCanada Ants Store in 2010. It is currently the highest suscribed ant-dedicated channel on the net, and has acquired international praise and viewership for its simplistic entertainment and education value. It is hosted by the President, Co-Founder/Owner, and Creative Director of The AntsCanada Ants Storeand holds frequent contests, draws, and interactive videos for its subscribers.
ant farm – the common name for a formicarium. The first commercially-sold formicarium was introduced around 1929 and patented in 1931 by Frank Austin, an inventor and professor at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Austin included painted or wooden scenes of palaces, farms, and other settings above the ground level, for a whimsical look. The creator of the company Uncle Milton Industries Inc took this concept and created the popular plastic ant farms incorporating the farm setting within it, which became a popular novelty product over many decades. Uncle Milton Industries Inc currently own the rights to the brand name “Ant Farm”, and have since sold millions of ant farms worldwide. These ant farm educational toys have yet to be accepted in the world of serious pet ant keeping as suitable, healthy, long-term homes for ant colonies [See also ant farm and Uncle Milton Industries Inc].
ant love- colloquial term coined by The AntsCanada Ants Store describing myrmecophilia, i.e. the love of ants.
ant woodlouse – a tiny blind, eyeless white crustacean that lives in ant nests and feeds on ant droppings and fungus. Its scientific name is Platyarthrus hoffmannseggiand is also known as a ‘white woodlouse’. They are only found in ant nests and rarely come above ground.
antenna (pl. antennae) – paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods
anterior- situated before or at the front of
AntsCanada – The commonly known nickname of the President/Co-Founder/Owner/Creative Director of The AntsCanada Ants Store, Mikey Bustos, and/or of The AntsCanada Ants Storeand team that runs it
AntsCanada Ants Store (AntsCanada.com) – You’re here! We are the world’s #1 leading innovators of pro ant keeping equipment, providing quality pet ant keeping products to ant lovers all over the world. Our clients also include producers of The Discovery Channel, schools/educational instutes, and museums. We also provide ant keepers with up-to-date information on caring for ants, ant biology, ecology, and promote bioliteracy and conservation. See the ABOUT US section of this website for more info. The store is a division of Bustos Entertainment Inc.
Antstore- a German-based online ant keeping store [Antstore.net] which sells a variety of standard formicaria and ant keeping products, as well as live ant colonies to Europen countries. It also hosts an online ant-related forum for ant keepers of various European languages, including English.
Antweb – an online [Antweb.org] catalogue of the world’s ant species organized regionally, and includes information, distribution data, and closeup photographs of preserved specimens. It is hosted by The California Academy of Sciencesand is run by curator and biologist Dr. Brian Fisher. Antweb is based in San Francisco, California and is funded from private donations and from grants from the National Science Foundation.
Antworks – a formicarial product manufactured by Uncle Milton Industries Inc which consists of an upright plastic enclosure containing a gel medium which acts as a venue for ants to dig tunnels and also nourishes worker ants for a short term. They are also known as gelfarms. The formula for the gel is derived from a NASA experiment and contains electrolytes for workers to stay alive. These ant farms like those of other ant products released by Uncle Milton Industries allow for mail-in ants (usually a Pogonomyrmex or Messor species) which are sent to the purchaser (just workers and no queen), upon receipt of the coupon enclosed with the ant farm. These gelfarms are for observing worker ants and their effectiveness in serious ant propagation is limited. Uncle Milton ant products have yet to be accepted by the serious ant keeping community as a proper home for the healthy, long term rearing of ant colonies. [See also gelfarm and Uncle Milton Industries Inc]
aphidicole- an animal that lives among aggregations of aphids
aphidicolous- describes an animal that lives among aggregations of aphids
aphids – any of numerous tiny soft-bodied insects of the family Aphididaeof worldwide distribution, that suck the sap from the stems and leaves of various plants, some developing wings when overcrowding occurs. Many species of ants farm aphids for the sweet secretions they excrete called honeydew.
Apocrita- the suborder of insects in the taxonomic order Hymenoptera that includes wasps, bees and ants, and consists of many families. This suborder includes the most advanced Hymenopterans and is distinguished from the Symphyta (another suborder within Hymenoptera) by the narrow “waist” (petiole) formed between the first two segments of the actual abdomen.
aposematism – most commonly known in the context of warning colouration, describes a family of anti-predator adaptations where a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators. The word originates from apo- meaning ‘away’ and sematicmeaning ‘sign/meaning’.
army ant – common name for over 200 ant species, in different lineages, due to their aggressive predatory foraging groups, known as “raids”, in which huge numbers of ants forage simultaneously over a certain area, attacking prey en masse. They are nomadic, i.e. do not construct permanent nests and move almost incessantly over the time it exists. It is also known as the legionary ant or “Marabunta”. Examples of army ants include those belonging to the genera Eciton in South America and Dorylusin Africa.
arthropod – an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton (external skeleton), a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda (from Greek arthron meaning “joint”, and podosmeaning “foot”, which together mean “jointed feet”), and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others.
Arthropoda – Phylum of arthropods, which include insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others. [See also arthropod]
autoclaved aerated cement (AAC)- a porous, cement material which is water absorbent and is often used to create formicaria, by way of carving tunnels and chambers into the cement. AAC and smilar material, is also known under other names such as Ytong and hebel brick.
autotroph- any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as a source of energy, as most plants and certain bacteria and protists
B
basin – also referred to as an outword, it is an enclosure separate from the main nest area which is designed to create a primary area for a captive ant colony for foraging and hunting. It provides the ants with an outer world or environment outside of the main nest where workers forage for food. It is usually connected to a formicarium through tubing or other means and may or may not be completely sealed. [See also outworld]
BIFA – Black Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis richteri
biologist- someone who studies the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.
biology- the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.
bivouac- in ants, it is an encampment made from improvised shelters, as seen in ants whose colonies are nomadic.
black ant – common name given to several dark-coloured ant species including Lasius niger and several other black species belonging to the genus Formica
bradymetabolism – refers to the lowered metabolic speed of an organism during a resting period, e.g. during hibernation or estivation.
brood- the young of an animal or a family of young, especially the young (as of a bird or insect) hatched or cared for at one time. In ants, it includes a colony’s eggs, larvae, and pupae.
brood boosting – a strategy used by ant keepers in which pupae (and sometimes eggs and larvae) are obtained from a mature colony (usually in the wild) and given to a queen in the founding stage of her colony in captivity. It is thought to increase the chances of captive colony success, but it involves the risk of introducing disease between colonies and it sometimes is unsuccessful at helping queens along, resulting in cannibalism or death of the pupae. Brood boosting is often carrried out for queens that have trouble founding their first set of workers, but is also often used to have a fledging colony grow much quicker. Brood boosting is done using young from the same species as the queen/colony being boosted, or at least within the same genus.
C
callow ant – a newly eclosed worker, i.e. a worker that has just emerged from the pupal stage into adulthood [See also eclose]
camouflage- concealment by some means that alters or obscures the appearance, in insects by way of exoskeleton markings, body shapes, and movements
carnivore- animal which eats meat or invertebrates
carpenter ants – common name for a number of species of ants that create nests in wood, belonging to the genus Camponotus. They are often regarded as domestic pests for this reason. These ants do not eat the wood like termites, but rather excavate by tearing away small pieces of wood fibre. They are a relatively larger species of ant and polymorphic.
caste- a specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members (such as the queen, majors, media, and minors) carry out a specific function.
cf.- abbreviation of the Latin “confer” meaning “compare to”. This is used to refer a specimen to a known species even though it may not be of that species. It is most often used when an identification is not confirmed.
chitin- a main component in the exoskeleton of arthropods. Its chemical formula is (C8H13O5N)n and it is a long-chain polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and is found in many places throughout the natural world.
citronella ant – common name for a yellow-coloured ant species that generally belong to the genera Acanthomyops or Lasius (e.g. Lasius claviger), that emit a citronella-smelling odour. They are generally a social parasitic species [See also social parasite]
claustral cell- the fully or partially enclosed living quarters assumed by a newly mated queen ant, where a young colony of first-born workers (nanitics) is reared by the queen. In fully-claustral species of ants it is a chamber (usually underground or in wood) that is completely sealed off, and the queen never leaves this chamber. As the colony expands, the workers pioneer and extend the living space of the claustral cell by excavating tunnels, which eventually gives rise to a full ant nest.
cocoon – a pupal casing made by moths, caterpillars and other insect larvae. In ants, the cocoon is created through silk from the larva. In some species the spinning of a cocoon is facilitated by the workers who provide the larvae debris as a framework for the pupating larvae to spin their cocoon. Ants belonging to the genus Formica are known to bury the mature larvae with grains of dirt until the larvae have spun their cocoon. Not all ant species spin cocoons for pupation, and instead have ***** pupae, as seen in ants belonging to the genera Myrmica, Pogonomyrmex, and Tetramorium, for instance.
colony- a group of the same type of animal or plant living or growing together, esp in large numbers; a family of ants living together in a nest or set of nests
compound eye- an arthropod eye subdivided into many individual, light-receptive elements, each including a lens, a transmitting apparatus, and retinal cells
cork nest- a type of formicarium with pre-made tunnels and chambers carved out of cork which absorbs water for nest hydration
cosmopolitan- in ecology, describes growing or occurring in many parts of the world; widely distributed.
coxa (pl. coxae) – the segment that connects the leg to the thorax
crop – social stomach where food is initially stored and processed before being fed to other members of the colony via mouth-to-mouth transfer [See also trophallaxis]
cryptic- fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage
cuticula- the invertebrate cuticle, a multi-layered structure outside the epidermis of many invertebrates, notably roundworms and arthropods, in which it forms an exoskeleton. The main structural component of arthropod cuticle is chitin, a polysaccharide composed of N-acetylglucosamine units, together with proteins, lipids, and catecholamines.
D
dealate- reproductive females (queens) that have mated and shed their wings. Dealates are characterized by their wing scars. When alates become dealates, they search for a suitable location to begin founding their own colonies.
dearth- an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity
decomposer- any organism in a community, such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue enabling the constituents to be recycled to the environment
dichthadiiform queen – the unique type of queen of army ants belonging to the subfamilies Aenictinae, Ecitoninae, and Dorylinae.
dimorphism – in biology occurs when there are two phenotypes that exist in the same population of a species, i.e. the occurrence of two clear forms or morphs. In ants it is usually more confined to the worker cast in this way: A polymorphic species in which the minors and majors still exist but the medias disappeared. E.g. most Pheidole species. Some Pheidolespecies have a supermajor cast alongside a major and a minor caste and are called trimorphic.
diploid- A cell or an organism having two sets of chromosomes in somatic cells. In ants, all female ants are diploid, containing twice the number of chromosomes of males ants. The number of chromosomes determines ant sex, therefore an unmated queen can actually give birth to young, but because she would lack a male’s **** to complete the full number of chromosomes and create diploid females, the young would all be haploid, and be males.
dirt nest- formicarium containing soil, sand, or other similar medium for digging
ditritivore – also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing organic matter). By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles [See also decomposer, heterotroph, and saprophagy].
Dolichoderinae- subfamily of ants with genera that use chemical warfare to their advantage. They are either odorous or spraying venom as a projectile weapon. They also all have one waist segment, and lack any hairs along the tip of their gaster.
dorsal- of, pertaining to, or situated at the back, or dorsum.
dulosis – the process of stealing slave-pupae and the whole way of life that accompanies it. When the pupae eclose in the nest they are “used” as slaves for the upkeeping of the nest, care of the larvae, nest construction, defence, etc. Dulosis can be observed in species like Polyergus rufescens, Strongylognathus alpinus, and Harpagoxenus sublaevis.
E
ecdysis – the moulting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups [See also cuticula]
eclose – the act of emerging from the pupal stage [See also pupa]
ectoparasite- a parasite that lives on or in the skin but not within the body. Ants have a variety of known ectoparasites, most of which are mites. Infestation with an ectoparasite is called an ectoparasitosis.
ectothermy- the process of active thermoregulation (the regulation of body temperature) by an organism by moving to areas of varying temperatures, e.g. a lizard basking in the sun to warm up or retreating to shade or water to cool off
endoparasite – A parasite, such as a tapeworm, that lives within another organism. Though largely unexplored, ants do have some known endoparasites, including a type of tachinid Strongygaster globula the maggot of which lives inside a young Lasius queen host, stops her egg laying, and eventually exits the queen without killing her. Here the maggot is cared for by the queen while it pupates. The queen dies shortly after and the adult fly emerges from the cocoon approximately 15 days after pupation, exiting the nest. In fact, The AntsCanada Ants Storeis one of the first to document this entire process (in a YouTube video). Infestation with an endoparasite is called an endoparasitosis.
entomologist- someone who studies insects
entomology- the scientific study of insects
epicuticle- the waxy film that coats the bodies of ants
epinotum- former term for propodeum
ergate- a worker
ergatoid- refers to a worker-like individual that can be either a male or a female
eudulosis – the process where a social parasite colony adopts a slave colony in total, i.e. the slave queen is killed in the process. Eudulosis can be observed in Formica (Coptoformica) naefi with its host Formica (Serviformica) sp..
estivation- a state of dormancy achieved by organisms in most cases in response to low food/water availability and high temperature.
exoskeleton- an external skeleton that supports and protects an animal’s body
exterior- pertaining to or connected with what is outside
extreme workerless inquiline – workerless inquiline (permanent social parasite without workers) that has undergone severe morphological adaptations like pupoïd males, degeneration of the mouthparts and some glands, development of some glands used for attracting host-workers. Examples of extreme workerless inquilines include the species Anergates atratulus aka Anergates friedlandi, Tetramorium microgyna, Tetramorium parasiticum, Pheidole neokohli, Pheidole acutidens, and Pheidole argentina. The species of Teleutomyrmex falls under this category but they also fall under thr group of ‘social ectoparasites’. [See also inquiline, workerless inquiline, and social ectoparasite]
F
femur – the single segment connecting the trochanter to the tibia on an insect’s leg [See also trochanter and tibia]
flagellum (pl. flagella) – the part of the antenna beyond the elongated basal segment, or scape. Primitively, it has 11 segments in females and 12 in males, but in many ant genera these numbers of segments are reduced in at least the females.
fluon- a chemical known as Polytetrafluoroethylene. In ant keeping, the liquid form is used as a barrier keeping ants from escaping open top outworlds. It is sometimes refered to as PTFE or the brand name ‘insect-a-slip’.
fire ant – a variety of stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide belonging to the genus Solenopsis. Also, another stinging species native to Europe (but invasive in other parts of the world) Myrmica rubrais sometimes referred to as the European fire ant.
forage- to wander in search of food or provisions
formic acid- also called methanoic acid, it is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in bee and ant venom, used primarily for attacking and defense. There are some species which lack the ability to spray it, however these species usually have stingers.
formicarium (pl. formicaria) – the technical term for an enclosure that acts as a nest for an ant colony, designed for housing ants for the purposes of observation or study. The first commercially-sold formicarium was introduced around 1929 and patented in 1931 by Frank Austin, an inventor and professor at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Austin included painted or wooden scenes of palaces, farms, and other settings above the ground level, for a whimsical look. They are more commonly called ant farms [See also ant farm].
Formicidae- the taxonomic family to which ants belong
Formicinae- a subfamily of ants with genera whose members have only one waist segment, and produce chemicals like formic acid. They lack a stinger.
founding chamber – the fully or partially enclosed living quarters assumed by a newly mated queen ant, where a young colony of first-born workers (nanitics) is reared by the queen. In fully-claustral species of ants it is a chamber (usually underground or in wood) that is completely sealed off, and the queen never leaves this chamber. As the colony expands, the workers pioneer and extend the living space of the founding chamber by excavating tunnels, which eventually gives rise to a full ant nest. [See also claustral cell]
fully-claustral- describes a queen who seals herself up entirely in a chamber during the initial stages of colony founding. She fasts and lives off energy stored in her wing muscles until her first workers arrive.
fungal grower – ant species which specialize on feeding from fungus grown in their nest reared from organic material, e.g. pieces of plant matter as seen in leaf-cutter ants belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex. The type of material gathered above ground to culture their fungal gardens depends on the species. There is even a fungal grower species which cultures fungal gardens from collected caterpillar droppings.
fungivore- animal which eats fungus
G
gamergate- a functional queen that looks externally like a worker.
ganglion (pl. ganglia) – a mass of nerve tissue that controls various functions like movement. In insects, it typically runs down the center of the body, which is why many insects are still capable of movement even if they are physically split in half or decapitated.
gaster- the metasoma or sometimes called abdomen. However, because ants along with wasps and bees are distinguished from other insects including those belonging to the other suborder (Symphyta) within Hymenoptera, by the narrow “waist” (petiole) formed between the first two segments of the actual abdomen (the first abdominal segment is fused to the thorax, and is called the propodeum), it is general practice, when discussing the body of an ant, wasp, or bee in a technical sense, to refer to the mesosoma and metasoma (or “gaster”) rather than the “thorax” and “abdomen,” respectively.
gelfarm – a toy antfarm which uses a gel medium for the ants to dig and also provides worker ants sustenance. The formula for the gel is derived from a NASA experiment and contains electrolytes for workers to stay alive. It was released by a company called Uncle Milton Industries Inc. under the product name Antworks. The gelfarms are sold commercially worldwide as a novelty product, but have yet to be accepted in the pro-ant keeping global community as a long-term, healthy habitat for housing whole ant colonies. Its design caters to keeping worker ants belonging to Pogonomyrmex or Messor (which can be ordered in the mail from the company) alive and housed for the length of their lifespans. [See also Antworks and Uncle Milton Industries Inc]
gemmae (sing. gemma) – defined by Holldobler and Wilson in The Superorganism 2009 as a pair of small, club-like thoracic appendages covered with sensory hairs richly endowed with exocrine cells. The function of these glands is not known, but it is likely that they secrete chemical functions inducing the mutilation process. These glandular organs are located approximately where wings would be in an alate queen. They are found on Diacamma ponerine ants. In these ants, when workers eclose in a nest with an established and fertile reproductive female (known as the gamergate), their nestmates immediately sever the gemmae. Amputation of the gemmae evidently causes phychological and morphological changes in the central nervous system that directs the transition from aggressive to timid behavior. [See also gamergate]
genotype- the genetic constitution of a cell, an organism, or an individual (i.e. the specific allele makeup of the individual) usually with reference to a specific character under consideration.
genus (pl. genera) – a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. In a scientific name it precedes the species. Examples of genera are Camponotus, Crematogaster, Myrmica, Lasius, and Formica.
granivore- animal that feeds on grains, nuts, and seeds
gynandromorph – an organism that contains both male and female characteristics. The term gynandromorph, from Greek “gyne” female and “andro” male, is mainly used in the field of Lepidopterology (butterfly/moth study) or entomology (all insects). Gynandromorphism has been observed in ant species like Myrmica rubrawhere very isolated ants appeared to have both male and female parts.
gyne- a queen ant
H
habitat- the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism
Habitat Nest – the signature nest of The AntsCanada Ants Store, it is an original formicarial product pioneered, engineered, and invented by The AntsCanada Ants Store in 2009. The Habitat Nest’s solid, cement-type base contains pre-excavated chambers and tunnels. The inside of the Habitat Nests possess properties of soil, lined with a gravel layer as well as a state-of-the-art water absorbent layer developed by The AntsCanada Ants Store known as Soakstone©. This dual layer within the habitat nests allows the colonies to be completely hydrated while allowing the ants to customize their living space without being able to burrow away from the glass. It is 100% mold resistant and is the most naturalistic formicarium available in the pet trade today. In 2010, The AntsCanada Habitat Nests were used to film a nature documentary with ants for The Discovery Channel.
hamulus (pl. hamuli) – hooks on the front side of the hind-wing between the fore and hind wings of an adult ant alate, wasp, bee, or similar insect.
haploid- A cell or an organism having half the number of chromosomes in somatic cells. In ants, all male ants are haploid, containing half the number of chromosomes of females ants (i.e. workers and queens). The number of chromosomes determines ant sex, therefore an unmated queen can actually give birth to young, but because she would lack a male’s **** to complete the full number of chromosomes and create diploid females, the young would all be haploid, and be males.
harvester ant – common name given to ant species that gather grains and seeds (i.e. granivorous), typically belonging to genera like Pogonomyrmex and Messor
hebel brick- a porous, cement material which is water absorbent and is often used to create formicaria, by way of carving tunnels and chambers into the cement. Hebel brick, and smilar material, is also known under other names such as autoclaved aerated cement (AAC) and Ytong.
hemolymph- a fluid in the body cavities and tissues of invertebrates, in arthropods functioning as blood.
heterotroph- an organism requiring organic compounds for its principal source of food, e.g. animals and fungi
herbivore- animal which eats plants or plant matter
hibernation- a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food is short, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate.
histogenesis – the process of growth by the remaining cells in the transforming insect within a pupa, using the nutrients from the broken down larva that resulted from histolysis. [See also histolysis]
histolysis – the process of excreting digestive juices while inside the pupa, to destroy much of the larva’s body, leaving a few cells intact and providing the nutrients needed for histogenesis [See also histogenesis]. It also is the process where the flight-muscles of a colony-founding queen are broken down to be converted to larval food (or food for the founding queen herself!).
holometabolism- the type of metamorphosis where the larvae differ markedly from the adults. Insects which undergo holometabolism pass through a larval stage, then enter an inactive state called pupa, or chrysalis, and finally emerge as adults. Holometabolism is also known as “complete” and “complex” metamorphosis. Ants are insects which undergo holometabolism.
honeydew- a sugary material secreted by aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects, psyllids, and other **** insects, which are often relished by ants
honeypot ant – common name for ant species within five different genera most notably Myrmecocystusknown for their repletes, which are gorged with food by workers, to the point that their abdomens swell enormously, a condition called plerergate. Other ants then extract nourishment from them. They function essentially as living larders.
host – In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite (that is, a virus, a bacterium, a protozoan, or a fungus), or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment, support, and/or shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna. In ants, it typically refers to a species whose colony is the target of social parasitic or slave-making ants, however it can also refer to the species inside/outside the body of which a parasite receives nourishment and shelter. [See also social parasite and slavery]
hydric – describes a habitat or soil that is formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. It is one of a triad of terms to describe the amount of water in a habitat. The others are xeric and mesic. [See also xeric and mesic]
hydrostone- brand name given to a plaster product very similar to plaster of paris but more mold resistant. Hydrostone is sometimes used to create formicaria, however, like plaster of paris, also grows mold in time.
Hymenoptera – one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. There are over 130,000 recognised species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek humen meaning ‘membrane’ and pteronmeaning ‘wing’. The hindwings are connected to the forewings by a series of hooks called hamuli.
hyperparasite – a parasite whose host is a parasite. An example of a hyperparasitic ant species is Lasius fuliginosus, which parasitizes the social parasitic species Lasius umbratus, which parasitizes the host species Lasius niger. [See also social parasite]
I
indigenous- describes having originated in and being produced, growing, or living naturally in a particular region or environment
inferior- in anatomy, describes being lower in place or position; situated below another
inquiline- a permanent social parasite
inquilinism – the relationship where a social parasite is dependent on a host species for as long as the colony exsists. Without the host-species’ workers, the colony will disappear. Inquilinism can be observed in species like Polyergus rufescens (employs dulosis.), Strongylognathus alpinus (also employs dulosis.), Strongylognathus testaceus (no dulosis; the workers are useless; when the host-workers die, the colony disappears.), Myrmoxenus kraussei (no dulosis; the workers are useless; when the host-workers die, the colony disappears.), Myrmoxenus stumperi (employs dulosis.). [See also dulosis]
insect – animals within the class Insecta [See Insecta]
insect-a-slip- brand name given to the liquid form of the chemical known as Polytetrafluoroethylene. In ant keeping, it is used as a barrier keeping ants from escaping open top outworlds. It is sometimes referred to as PTFE or fluon.
Insecta- a taxonomic class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are among the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million, and potentially represent over 90% of the differing metazoan life forms on Earth. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species occur in the oceans, a habitat dominated by another arthropod group, the crustaceans.
insectivore- animal which eats insects
instar- the stage in the development of an arthropod between any two moults. Ants have 3 – 5 larval instar stages. The shed skin is chewed into a small pellet and fed to the larva that shed it or to another larva.
interior- of or pertaining to that which is within
invasive – desribes being not native to, and also tending to spread widely in a habitat or environment. Invasive species often have few natural predators or other biological controls in their new environment. Although not always considered harmful to an environment, invasive species can become agricultural or ecological pests and can displace native species from their habitats. Invasive species are often introduced to an environment unintentionally. An examples of invasive species include Solenopsis invicta (also known as RIFA or Red Imported Fire Ants) and Linepithema humile(also known as Argentine ants).
invertebrate – an animal without a backbone. The group includes 95% of all animal species, and include all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebratawhich encompass fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
J
jack jumper ant – common name for the species Myrmecia pilosula; they are also known as the hopper ant, jumper ant, or jumping jack and are a species of bull ant native to Australia. Their characteristic jumping motion when in an agitated state gave them their name.
jerdon’s jumping ant – common name for the species Harpegnathos saltator
K
karyotype – A characterization of the number and shapes of the chromosomes of an ant (or any) species. Karyotype studies have revealed cryptic species in several ant genera, including Myrmecia & Aphaenogaster. The former genus is of interest in that karyotypes of the various species span the full range of chromosome numbers for ants, with haploid numbers ranging from 1 to 47 (or a total of 4-94 per cell).
kinopsis- the alarm communication or recruitment mediated by the sight of categories of kin
abdomen – includes the propodeum, petiole, and the gaster on an ant’s body [See also propodeum, petiole, and gaster]
Acheta domestica- scientific name of the species of cricket commonly used in the pet trade as a feeder insect. They are commonly fed by ant keepers to ants.
acrobat ant – ant belonging to the genus Crematogasternotorious for their heart shaped gasters, which bend over their heads and to the sides of their bodies when shooting formic acid for defense and attacking.
Adventures Among Ants – best-selling book on ants by highly acclaimed National Geographic writer and photographer Mark Moffet. The AntsCanada Ants Store interviewed Mark Moffet on The Amazing Ants of AntsCanadaYouTube channel regarding his book, experiences, career, and general thoughts.
alate- a reproductive male or female ant. They are born with wings. During nuptial flight they take to the air and mate. Males die shortly after mating, and females shed their wings becoming dealates and begin searching for a suitable location to found her colony as the queen.
allele- one of two or more forms of the DNA sequence of a particular gene.
alitrunk – name given to the mesosoma or the middle part of the body, or tagma, in ants. It bears the legs and in alates, the wings. In Apocrita Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants), it consists of the three thoracic segments and the first abdominal segment (the propodeum). [See mesosoma]
Amazing Ants of AntsCanada – The popular YouTube Channel [Youtube.com/AntsCanada] created on July 14th, 2009 which eventually gave rise to The AntsCanada Ants Store in 2010. It is currently the highest suscribed ant-dedicated channel on the net, and has acquired international praise and viewership for its simplistic entertainment and education value. It is hosted by the President, Co-Founder/Owner, and Creative Director of The AntsCanada Ants Storeand holds frequent contests, draws, and interactive videos for its subscribers.
ant farm – the common name for a formicarium. The first commercially-sold formicarium was introduced around 1929 and patented in 1931 by Frank Austin, an inventor and professor at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Austin included painted or wooden scenes of palaces, farms, and other settings above the ground level, for a whimsical look. The creator of the company Uncle Milton Industries Inc took this concept and created the popular plastic ant farms incorporating the farm setting within it, which became a popular novelty product over many decades. Uncle Milton Industries Inc currently own the rights to the brand name “Ant Farm”, and have since sold millions of ant farms worldwide. These ant farm educational toys have yet to be accepted in the world of serious pet ant keeping as suitable, healthy, long-term homes for ant colonies [See also ant farm and Uncle Milton Industries Inc].
ant love- colloquial term coined by The AntsCanada Ants Store describing myrmecophilia, i.e. the love of ants.
ant woodlouse – a tiny blind, eyeless white crustacean that lives in ant nests and feeds on ant droppings and fungus. Its scientific name is Platyarthrus hoffmannseggiand is also known as a ‘white woodlouse’. They are only found in ant nests and rarely come above ground.
antenna (pl. antennae) – paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods
anterior- situated before or at the front of
AntsCanada – The commonly known nickname of the President/Co-Founder/Owner/Creative Director of The AntsCanada Ants Store, Mikey Bustos, and/or of The AntsCanada Ants Storeand team that runs it
AntsCanada Ants Store (AntsCanada.com) – You’re here! We are the world’s #1 leading innovators of pro ant keeping equipment, providing quality pet ant keeping products to ant lovers all over the world. Our clients also include producers of The Discovery Channel, schools/educational instutes, and museums. We also provide ant keepers with up-to-date information on caring for ants, ant biology, ecology, and promote bioliteracy and conservation. See the ABOUT US section of this website for more info. The store is a division of Bustos Entertainment Inc.
Antstore- a German-based online ant keeping store [Antstore.net] which sells a variety of standard formicaria and ant keeping products, as well as live ant colonies to Europen countries. It also hosts an online ant-related forum for ant keepers of various European languages, including English.
Antweb – an online [Antweb.org] catalogue of the world’s ant species organized regionally, and includes information, distribution data, and closeup photographs of preserved specimens. It is hosted by The California Academy of Sciencesand is run by curator and biologist Dr. Brian Fisher. Antweb is based in San Francisco, California and is funded from private donations and from grants from the National Science Foundation.
Antworks – a formicarial product manufactured by Uncle Milton Industries Inc which consists of an upright plastic enclosure containing a gel medium which acts as a venue for ants to dig tunnels and also nourishes worker ants for a short term. They are also known as gelfarms. The formula for the gel is derived from a NASA experiment and contains electrolytes for workers to stay alive. These ant farms like those of other ant products released by Uncle Milton Industries allow for mail-in ants (usually a Pogonomyrmex or Messor species) which are sent to the purchaser (just workers and no queen), upon receipt of the coupon enclosed with the ant farm. These gelfarms are for observing worker ants and their effectiveness in serious ant propagation is limited. Uncle Milton ant products have yet to be accepted by the serious ant keeping community as a proper home for the healthy, long term rearing of ant colonies. [See also gelfarm and Uncle Milton Industries Inc]
aphidicole- an animal that lives among aggregations of aphids
aphidicolous- describes an animal that lives among aggregations of aphids
aphids – any of numerous tiny soft-bodied insects of the family Aphididaeof worldwide distribution, that suck the sap from the stems and leaves of various plants, some developing wings when overcrowding occurs. Many species of ants farm aphids for the sweet secretions they excrete called honeydew.
Apocrita- the suborder of insects in the taxonomic order Hymenoptera that includes wasps, bees and ants, and consists of many families. This suborder includes the most advanced Hymenopterans and is distinguished from the Symphyta (another suborder within Hymenoptera) by the narrow “waist” (petiole) formed between the first two segments of the actual abdomen.
aposematism – most commonly known in the context of warning colouration, describes a family of anti-predator adaptations where a warning signal is associated with the unprofitability of a prey item to potential predators. The word originates from apo- meaning ‘away’ and sematicmeaning ‘sign/meaning’.
army ant – common name for over 200 ant species, in different lineages, due to their aggressive predatory foraging groups, known as “raids”, in which huge numbers of ants forage simultaneously over a certain area, attacking prey en masse. They are nomadic, i.e. do not construct permanent nests and move almost incessantly over the time it exists. It is also known as the legionary ant or “Marabunta”. Examples of army ants include those belonging to the genera Eciton in South America and Dorylusin Africa.
arthropod – an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton (external skeleton), a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda (from Greek arthron meaning “joint”, and podosmeaning “foot”, which together mean “jointed feet”), and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others.
Arthropoda – Phylum of arthropods, which include insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others. [See also arthropod]
autoclaved aerated cement (AAC)- a porous, cement material which is water absorbent and is often used to create formicaria, by way of carving tunnels and chambers into the cement. AAC and smilar material, is also known under other names such as Ytong and hebel brick.
autotroph- any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as a source of energy, as most plants and certain bacteria and protists
B
basin – also referred to as an outword, it is an enclosure separate from the main nest area which is designed to create a primary area for a captive ant colony for foraging and hunting. It provides the ants with an outer world or environment outside of the main nest where workers forage for food. It is usually connected to a formicarium through tubing or other means and may or may not be completely sealed. [See also outworld]
BIFA – Black Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis richteri
biologist- someone who studies the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.
biology- the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.
bivouac- in ants, it is an encampment made from improvised shelters, as seen in ants whose colonies are nomadic.
black ant – common name given to several dark-coloured ant species including Lasius niger and several other black species belonging to the genus Formica
bradymetabolism – refers to the lowered metabolic speed of an organism during a resting period, e.g. during hibernation or estivation.
brood- the young of an animal or a family of young, especially the young (as of a bird or insect) hatched or cared for at one time. In ants, it includes a colony’s eggs, larvae, and pupae.
brood boosting – a strategy used by ant keepers in which pupae (and sometimes eggs and larvae) are obtained from a mature colony (usually in the wild) and given to a queen in the founding stage of her colony in captivity. It is thought to increase the chances of captive colony success, but it involves the risk of introducing disease between colonies and it sometimes is unsuccessful at helping queens along, resulting in cannibalism or death of the pupae. Brood boosting is often carrried out for queens that have trouble founding their first set of workers, but is also often used to have a fledging colony grow much quicker. Brood boosting is done using young from the same species as the queen/colony being boosted, or at least within the same genus.
C
callow ant – a newly eclosed worker, i.e. a worker that has just emerged from the pupal stage into adulthood [See also eclose]
camouflage- concealment by some means that alters or obscures the appearance, in insects by way of exoskeleton markings, body shapes, and movements
carnivore- animal which eats meat or invertebrates
carpenter ants – common name for a number of species of ants that create nests in wood, belonging to the genus Camponotus. They are often regarded as domestic pests for this reason. These ants do not eat the wood like termites, but rather excavate by tearing away small pieces of wood fibre. They are a relatively larger species of ant and polymorphic.
caste- a specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members (such as the queen, majors, media, and minors) carry out a specific function.
cf.- abbreviation of the Latin “confer” meaning “compare to”. This is used to refer a specimen to a known species even though it may not be of that species. It is most often used when an identification is not confirmed.
chitin- a main component in the exoskeleton of arthropods. Its chemical formula is (C8H13O5N)n and it is a long-chain polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and is found in many places throughout the natural world.
citronella ant – common name for a yellow-coloured ant species that generally belong to the genera Acanthomyops or Lasius (e.g. Lasius claviger), that emit a citronella-smelling odour. They are generally a social parasitic species [See also social parasite]
claustral cell- the fully or partially enclosed living quarters assumed by a newly mated queen ant, where a young colony of first-born workers (nanitics) is reared by the queen. In fully-claustral species of ants it is a chamber (usually underground or in wood) that is completely sealed off, and the queen never leaves this chamber. As the colony expands, the workers pioneer and extend the living space of the claustral cell by excavating tunnels, which eventually gives rise to a full ant nest.
cocoon – a pupal casing made by moths, caterpillars and other insect larvae. In ants, the cocoon is created through silk from the larva. In some species the spinning of a cocoon is facilitated by the workers who provide the larvae debris as a framework for the pupating larvae to spin their cocoon. Ants belonging to the genus Formica are known to bury the mature larvae with grains of dirt until the larvae have spun their cocoon. Not all ant species spin cocoons for pupation, and instead have ***** pupae, as seen in ants belonging to the genera Myrmica, Pogonomyrmex, and Tetramorium, for instance.
colony- a group of the same type of animal or plant living or growing together, esp in large numbers; a family of ants living together in a nest or set of nests
compound eye- an arthropod eye subdivided into many individual, light-receptive elements, each including a lens, a transmitting apparatus, and retinal cells
cork nest- a type of formicarium with pre-made tunnels and chambers carved out of cork which absorbs water for nest hydration
cosmopolitan- in ecology, describes growing or occurring in many parts of the world; widely distributed.
coxa (pl. coxae) – the segment that connects the leg to the thorax
crop – social stomach where food is initially stored and processed before being fed to other members of the colony via mouth-to-mouth transfer [See also trophallaxis]
cryptic- fitted for concealing; serving to camouflage
cuticula- the invertebrate cuticle, a multi-layered structure outside the epidermis of many invertebrates, notably roundworms and arthropods, in which it forms an exoskeleton. The main structural component of arthropod cuticle is chitin, a polysaccharide composed of N-acetylglucosamine units, together with proteins, lipids, and catecholamines.
D
dealate- reproductive females (queens) that have mated and shed their wings. Dealates are characterized by their wing scars. When alates become dealates, they search for a suitable location to begin founding their own colonies.
dearth- an inadequate amount, esp of food; scarcity
decomposer- any organism in a community, such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue enabling the constituents to be recycled to the environment
dichthadiiform queen – the unique type of queen of army ants belonging to the subfamilies Aenictinae, Ecitoninae, and Dorylinae.
dimorphism – in biology occurs when there are two phenotypes that exist in the same population of a species, i.e. the occurrence of two clear forms or morphs. In ants it is usually more confined to the worker cast in this way: A polymorphic species in which the minors and majors still exist but the medias disappeared. E.g. most Pheidole species. Some Pheidolespecies have a supermajor cast alongside a major and a minor caste and are called trimorphic.
diploid- A cell or an organism having two sets of chromosomes in somatic cells. In ants, all female ants are diploid, containing twice the number of chromosomes of males ants. The number of chromosomes determines ant sex, therefore an unmated queen can actually give birth to young, but because she would lack a male’s **** to complete the full number of chromosomes and create diploid females, the young would all be haploid, and be males.
dirt nest- formicarium containing soil, sand, or other similar medium for digging
ditritivore – also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing organic matter). By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles [See also decomposer, heterotroph, and saprophagy].
Dolichoderinae- subfamily of ants with genera that use chemical warfare to their advantage. They are either odorous or spraying venom as a projectile weapon. They also all have one waist segment, and lack any hairs along the tip of their gaster.
dorsal- of, pertaining to, or situated at the back, or dorsum.
dulosis – the process of stealing slave-pupae and the whole way of life that accompanies it. When the pupae eclose in the nest they are “used” as slaves for the upkeeping of the nest, care of the larvae, nest construction, defence, etc. Dulosis can be observed in species like Polyergus rufescens, Strongylognathus alpinus, and Harpagoxenus sublaevis.
E
ecdysis – the moulting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups [See also cuticula]
eclose – the act of emerging from the pupal stage [See also pupa]
ectoparasite- a parasite that lives on or in the skin but not within the body. Ants have a variety of known ectoparasites, most of which are mites. Infestation with an ectoparasite is called an ectoparasitosis.
ectothermy- the process of active thermoregulation (the regulation of body temperature) by an organism by moving to areas of varying temperatures, e.g. a lizard basking in the sun to warm up or retreating to shade or water to cool off
endoparasite – A parasite, such as a tapeworm, that lives within another organism. Though largely unexplored, ants do have some known endoparasites, including a type of tachinid Strongygaster globula the maggot of which lives inside a young Lasius queen host, stops her egg laying, and eventually exits the queen without killing her. Here the maggot is cared for by the queen while it pupates. The queen dies shortly after and the adult fly emerges from the cocoon approximately 15 days after pupation, exiting the nest. In fact, The AntsCanada Ants Storeis one of the first to document this entire process (in a YouTube video). Infestation with an endoparasite is called an endoparasitosis.
entomologist- someone who studies insects
entomology- the scientific study of insects
epicuticle- the waxy film that coats the bodies of ants
epinotum- former term for propodeum
ergate- a worker
ergatoid- refers to a worker-like individual that can be either a male or a female
eudulosis – the process where a social parasite colony adopts a slave colony in total, i.e. the slave queen is killed in the process. Eudulosis can be observed in Formica (Coptoformica) naefi with its host Formica (Serviformica) sp..
estivation- a state of dormancy achieved by organisms in most cases in response to low food/water availability and high temperature.
exoskeleton- an external skeleton that supports and protects an animal’s body
exterior- pertaining to or connected with what is outside
extreme workerless inquiline – workerless inquiline (permanent social parasite without workers) that has undergone severe morphological adaptations like pupoïd males, degeneration of the mouthparts and some glands, development of some glands used for attracting host-workers. Examples of extreme workerless inquilines include the species Anergates atratulus aka Anergates friedlandi, Tetramorium microgyna, Tetramorium parasiticum, Pheidole neokohli, Pheidole acutidens, and Pheidole argentina. The species of Teleutomyrmex falls under this category but they also fall under thr group of ‘social ectoparasites’. [See also inquiline, workerless inquiline, and social ectoparasite]
F
femur – the single segment connecting the trochanter to the tibia on an insect’s leg [See also trochanter and tibia]
flagellum (pl. flagella) – the part of the antenna beyond the elongated basal segment, or scape. Primitively, it has 11 segments in females and 12 in males, but in many ant genera these numbers of segments are reduced in at least the females.
fluon- a chemical known as Polytetrafluoroethylene. In ant keeping, the liquid form is used as a barrier keeping ants from escaping open top outworlds. It is sometimes refered to as PTFE or the brand name ‘insect-a-slip’.
fire ant – a variety of stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide belonging to the genus Solenopsis. Also, another stinging species native to Europe (but invasive in other parts of the world) Myrmica rubrais sometimes referred to as the European fire ant.
forage- to wander in search of food or provisions
formic acid- also called methanoic acid, it is the simplest carboxylic acid. Its formula is HCOOH or HCO2H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in bee and ant venom, used primarily for attacking and defense. There are some species which lack the ability to spray it, however these species usually have stingers.
formicarium (pl. formicaria) – the technical term for an enclosure that acts as a nest for an ant colony, designed for housing ants for the purposes of observation or study. The first commercially-sold formicarium was introduced around 1929 and patented in 1931 by Frank Austin, an inventor and professor at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. Austin included painted or wooden scenes of palaces, farms, and other settings above the ground level, for a whimsical look. They are more commonly called ant farms [See also ant farm].
Formicidae- the taxonomic family to which ants belong
Formicinae- a subfamily of ants with genera whose members have only one waist segment, and produce chemicals like formic acid. They lack a stinger.
founding chamber – the fully or partially enclosed living quarters assumed by a newly mated queen ant, where a young colony of first-born workers (nanitics) is reared by the queen. In fully-claustral species of ants it is a chamber (usually underground or in wood) that is completely sealed off, and the queen never leaves this chamber. As the colony expands, the workers pioneer and extend the living space of the founding chamber by excavating tunnels, which eventually gives rise to a full ant nest. [See also claustral cell]
fully-claustral- describes a queen who seals herself up entirely in a chamber during the initial stages of colony founding. She fasts and lives off energy stored in her wing muscles until her first workers arrive.
fungal grower – ant species which specialize on feeding from fungus grown in their nest reared from organic material, e.g. pieces of plant matter as seen in leaf-cutter ants belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex. The type of material gathered above ground to culture their fungal gardens depends on the species. There is even a fungal grower species which cultures fungal gardens from collected caterpillar droppings.
fungivore- animal which eats fungus
G
gamergate- a functional queen that looks externally like a worker.
ganglion (pl. ganglia) – a mass of nerve tissue that controls various functions like movement. In insects, it typically runs down the center of the body, which is why many insects are still capable of movement even if they are physically split in half or decapitated.
gaster- the metasoma or sometimes called abdomen. However, because ants along with wasps and bees are distinguished from other insects including those belonging to the other suborder (Symphyta) within Hymenoptera, by the narrow “waist” (petiole) formed between the first two segments of the actual abdomen (the first abdominal segment is fused to the thorax, and is called the propodeum), it is general practice, when discussing the body of an ant, wasp, or bee in a technical sense, to refer to the mesosoma and metasoma (or “gaster”) rather than the “thorax” and “abdomen,” respectively.
gelfarm – a toy antfarm which uses a gel medium for the ants to dig and also provides worker ants sustenance. The formula for the gel is derived from a NASA experiment and contains electrolytes for workers to stay alive. It was released by a company called Uncle Milton Industries Inc. under the product name Antworks. The gelfarms are sold commercially worldwide as a novelty product, but have yet to be accepted in the pro-ant keeping global community as a long-term, healthy habitat for housing whole ant colonies. Its design caters to keeping worker ants belonging to Pogonomyrmex or Messor (which can be ordered in the mail from the company) alive and housed for the length of their lifespans. [See also Antworks and Uncle Milton Industries Inc]
gemmae (sing. gemma) – defined by Holldobler and Wilson in The Superorganism 2009 as a pair of small, club-like thoracic appendages covered with sensory hairs richly endowed with exocrine cells. The function of these glands is not known, but it is likely that they secrete chemical functions inducing the mutilation process. These glandular organs are located approximately where wings would be in an alate queen. They are found on Diacamma ponerine ants. In these ants, when workers eclose in a nest with an established and fertile reproductive female (known as the gamergate), their nestmates immediately sever the gemmae. Amputation of the gemmae evidently causes phychological and morphological changes in the central nervous system that directs the transition from aggressive to timid behavior. [See also gamergate]
genotype- the genetic constitution of a cell, an organism, or an individual (i.e. the specific allele makeup of the individual) usually with reference to a specific character under consideration.
genus (pl. genera) – a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. In a scientific name it precedes the species. Examples of genera are Camponotus, Crematogaster, Myrmica, Lasius, and Formica.
granivore- animal that feeds on grains, nuts, and seeds
gynandromorph – an organism that contains both male and female characteristics. The term gynandromorph, from Greek “gyne” female and “andro” male, is mainly used in the field of Lepidopterology (butterfly/moth study) or entomology (all insects). Gynandromorphism has been observed in ant species like Myrmica rubrawhere very isolated ants appeared to have both male and female parts.
gyne- a queen ant
H
habitat- the natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism
Habitat Nest – the signature nest of The AntsCanada Ants Store, it is an original formicarial product pioneered, engineered, and invented by The AntsCanada Ants Store in 2009. The Habitat Nest’s solid, cement-type base contains pre-excavated chambers and tunnels. The inside of the Habitat Nests possess properties of soil, lined with a gravel layer as well as a state-of-the-art water absorbent layer developed by The AntsCanada Ants Store known as Soakstone©. This dual layer within the habitat nests allows the colonies to be completely hydrated while allowing the ants to customize their living space without being able to burrow away from the glass. It is 100% mold resistant and is the most naturalistic formicarium available in the pet trade today. In 2010, The AntsCanada Habitat Nests were used to film a nature documentary with ants for The Discovery Channel.
hamulus (pl. hamuli) – hooks on the front side of the hind-wing between the fore and hind wings of an adult ant alate, wasp, bee, or similar insect.
haploid- A cell or an organism having half the number of chromosomes in somatic cells. In ants, all male ants are haploid, containing half the number of chromosomes of females ants (i.e. workers and queens). The number of chromosomes determines ant sex, therefore an unmated queen can actually give birth to young, but because she would lack a male’s **** to complete the full number of chromosomes and create diploid females, the young would all be haploid, and be males.
harvester ant – common name given to ant species that gather grains and seeds (i.e. granivorous), typically belonging to genera like Pogonomyrmex and Messor
hebel brick- a porous, cement material which is water absorbent and is often used to create formicaria, by way of carving tunnels and chambers into the cement. Hebel brick, and smilar material, is also known under other names such as autoclaved aerated cement (AAC) and Ytong.
hemolymph- a fluid in the body cavities and tissues of invertebrates, in arthropods functioning as blood.
heterotroph- an organism requiring organic compounds for its principal source of food, e.g. animals and fungi
herbivore- animal which eats plants or plant matter
hibernation- a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food is short, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate.
histogenesis – the process of growth by the remaining cells in the transforming insect within a pupa, using the nutrients from the broken down larva that resulted from histolysis. [See also histolysis]
histolysis – the process of excreting digestive juices while inside the pupa, to destroy much of the larva’s body, leaving a few cells intact and providing the nutrients needed for histogenesis [See also histogenesis]. It also is the process where the flight-muscles of a colony-founding queen are broken down to be converted to larval food (or food for the founding queen herself!).
holometabolism- the type of metamorphosis where the larvae differ markedly from the adults. Insects which undergo holometabolism pass through a larval stage, then enter an inactive state called pupa, or chrysalis, and finally emerge as adults. Holometabolism is also known as “complete” and “complex” metamorphosis. Ants are insects which undergo holometabolism.
honeydew- a sugary material secreted by aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects, psyllids, and other **** insects, which are often relished by ants
honeypot ant – common name for ant species within five different genera most notably Myrmecocystusknown for their repletes, which are gorged with food by workers, to the point that their abdomens swell enormously, a condition called plerergate. Other ants then extract nourishment from them. They function essentially as living larders.
host – In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite (that is, a virus, a bacterium, a protozoan, or a fungus), or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment, support, and/or shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna. In ants, it typically refers to a species whose colony is the target of social parasitic or slave-making ants, however it can also refer to the species inside/outside the body of which a parasite receives nourishment and shelter. [See also social parasite and slavery]
hydric – describes a habitat or soil that is formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. It is one of a triad of terms to describe the amount of water in a habitat. The others are xeric and mesic. [See also xeric and mesic]
hydrostone- brand name given to a plaster product very similar to plaster of paris but more mold resistant. Hydrostone is sometimes used to create formicaria, however, like plaster of paris, also grows mold in time.
Hymenoptera – one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. There are over 130,000 recognised species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek humen meaning ‘membrane’ and pteronmeaning ‘wing’. The hindwings are connected to the forewings by a series of hooks called hamuli.
hyperparasite – a parasite whose host is a parasite. An example of a hyperparasitic ant species is Lasius fuliginosus, which parasitizes the social parasitic species Lasius umbratus, which parasitizes the host species Lasius niger. [See also social parasite]
I
indigenous- describes having originated in and being produced, growing, or living naturally in a particular region or environment
inferior- in anatomy, describes being lower in place or position; situated below another
inquiline- a permanent social parasite
inquilinism – the relationship where a social parasite is dependent on a host species for as long as the colony exsists. Without the host-species’ workers, the colony will disappear. Inquilinism can be observed in species like Polyergus rufescens (employs dulosis.), Strongylognathus alpinus (also employs dulosis.), Strongylognathus testaceus (no dulosis; the workers are useless; when the host-workers die, the colony disappears.), Myrmoxenus kraussei (no dulosis; the workers are useless; when the host-workers die, the colony disappears.), Myrmoxenus stumperi (employs dulosis.). [See also dulosis]
insect – animals within the class Insecta [See Insecta]
insect-a-slip- brand name given to the liquid form of the chemical known as Polytetrafluoroethylene. In ant keeping, it is used as a barrier keeping ants from escaping open top outworlds. It is sometimes referred to as PTFE or fluon.
Insecta- a taxonomic class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae. They are among the most diverse group of animals on the planet and include more than a million described species and represent more than half of all known living organisms. The number of extant species is estimated at between six and ten million, and potentially represent over 90% of the differing metazoan life forms on Earth. Insects may be found in nearly all environments, although only a small number of species occur in the oceans, a habitat dominated by another arthropod group, the crustaceans.
insectivore- animal which eats insects
instar- the stage in the development of an arthropod between any two moults. Ants have 3 – 5 larval instar stages. The shed skin is chewed into a small pellet and fed to the larva that shed it or to another larva.
interior- of or pertaining to that which is within
invasive – desribes being not native to, and also tending to spread widely in a habitat or environment. Invasive species often have few natural predators or other biological controls in their new environment. Although not always considered harmful to an environment, invasive species can become agricultural or ecological pests and can displace native species from their habitats. Invasive species are often introduced to an environment unintentionally. An examples of invasive species include Solenopsis invicta (also known as RIFA or Red Imported Fire Ants) and Linepithema humile(also known as Argentine ants).
invertebrate – an animal without a backbone. The group includes 95% of all animal species, and include all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebratawhich encompass fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
J
jack jumper ant – common name for the species Myrmecia pilosula; they are also known as the hopper ant, jumper ant, or jumping jack and are a species of bull ant native to Australia. Their characteristic jumping motion when in an agitated state gave them their name.
jerdon’s jumping ant – common name for the species Harpegnathos saltator
K
karyotype – A characterization of the number and shapes of the chromosomes of an ant (or any) species. Karyotype studies have revealed cryptic species in several ant genera, including Myrmecia & Aphaenogaster. The former genus is of interest in that karyotypes of the various species span the full range of chromosome numbers for ants, with haploid numbers ranging from 1 to 47 (or a total of 4-94 per cell).
kinopsis- the alarm communication or recruitment mediated by the sight of categories of kin