FAUNA PARAGUAY CERAPACHYINAE

FORMICIDAE - ANTS
SUBFAMILY CERAPACHYINAE
The subfamily Cerapachyinae is likely of very ancient origin, being present in most geographic areas across the globe.
Habitat: Subterranean.
Distribution: The subfamily has a worldwide distribution, but the three tribes occurring in Paraguay are all confined to the New World.
Characteristics: Cerapachyinid ants are elongated with parallel sides in dorsal view. They lack teeth on the mandibles in most cases and the frontal ridges are located close together on the head, being elevated and exposing the antennal insertion points. The antennae are made up of 11 to 12 segments. The dorsal mesonotum is smooth and flattened. The pedicel is broad and well-connected to the post-pedicel. Behaviour is distinctly wasp-like, twitching the antennae constantly as they walk in lines. They are predators of termites Isoptera and other ants. Larvae are densely pilose, lacking tubercles. Males have well-developed mandibles and retractible genitals. Sub-genital plate is forked with two obvious processes. Females may be winged with large eyes, or wingless with small eyes and elongasted gaster. Colouration is generally red or blackish. Colonies are generally small, consisting of between 20 and 200 individuals, and behaviour is largely subterranean. Nests do not appear to be permanent, suggesting nomadic behaviour.
Genera: Three genera occur in Paraguay Acanthostichus, Mayr, Cerapachys, F. Smith and Cylindromyrmex, Mayr.
Acanthostichus (5 species) - Antennae with 12 segments, the last larger than the others. Monormorphic reddish workers with smooth and shiny tegument. Eyes small, base of antennae exposed. Box-like mesosome completely fused, with flattened dorsal surface and right-angled sides. Legs strong and thick, especially femur and coxa. Presence of metatibial glands and a malar suture from behind the eye to the mandibular insertion are characteristic of this genus. Females wingless with small eyes and elongasted gaster. Male distinctly wasp-like. Ventral surface of pedicel with two lines of fine hairs. Subgenital plate with thin, sharp processes.
Cerapachys (1 species) - Antennae with 11 segments. Scarcely haired. Ventral part of the rear of the head ridged. Frontal ridges elevated and almost erect. Workers with small eyes, eyes larger in females. Side of head with a prominent ridge from the anterior part of the eye to the base of the antenna. Clypeus slender, located behind the frontal ridges. Peduncle of pedicel short. Tergites of gaster poorly-defined. Functional sting.
Cylindromyrmex (1 species) - Antennae with 12 segments. Monomorphic workers black or red in colour, sometimes with yellowish legs. Entire body striated. Head elongated and parallel-sided. Frontal ridges cover the antennal insertions and extend back to cover the antennal ridges. Mesonotum almost without dorsal ridges. Nests are found in wood, under bark in humid forest areas. Termite feeders.
Species: Seven species of this subfamily are documented as occurring in Paraguay, classified into three tribes.
REFERENCES
MacKay WP 2003 - Subfamilia Cerapachyinae in Introducción a las Hormigas de la Région Neotropical - Von Humboldt Institute, Bogota, Colombia.

The following is a list of the species so far documented as occurring in Paraguay taken from the online resource Ant Web.
Species for which we have live images taken in Paraguay are marked with a *.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO LIVE IMAGES OF SPECIES IN THIS SUBFAMILY
Click the species link for access to Ant Web specimen images and FAUNA Paraguay species accounts.
Specimen images of 4 species (57% of family total) are currently available.
Click the AntWebsp link for access to the species page on Ant Web.

This list should be cited as:
Wild A - Cerapachyinae Ant Web List of the Ants of Paraguay, taken from www.faunaparaguay.com.

Tribe Acanthostichini
Acanthostichus brevicornis Emery 1894                                                                           AntWebsp
Acanthostichus kirbyi Emery 1895                                                                                   AntWebsp
Acanthostichus laticornis Forel 1908    no images                                                      AntWebsp
Acanthostichus longinodis MacKay 2004    no images                                             AntWebsp
Acanthostichus serratulus (F.Smith 1858)    no images                                               AntWebsp
Tribe Cerapacyhini
Cerapachys alw01                                                                                                                  AntWebsp
Tribe Cylindromyrmecini
Cylindromyrmex brasiliensis Emery 1901                                                                          AntWebsp

Relevant Resources
For people interested in Formicidae the following electronic resources are highly recommended.
Ant Web Everything you need to know about ants of the world.
Myrmecos.net High quality photography of the world´s ants.
Laboratory for Environmental Biology Ant Pages Tonnes of ant books, keys and publications to download.