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| Liometopum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Liometopum occidentale | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Tribe: | Tapinomini |
| Genus: | Liometopum Mayr, 1861 |
| Type species | |
| Formica microcephala | |
Liometopum, or velvety tree ants, is a genus of ants that belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus is regionally distributed across North America, Europe and Asia.
In Mexico, colonies of Liometopum have been used as a food resource by people in rural areas for centuries. The immature stages of the reproductive caste, known as "escamoles" are consumed and are a high-quality source of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. Adult reproductives may also be consumed by humans during swarming, and worker brood is consumed when other stages are scarce.
Caterpillars of certain butterfly species have a symbiotic relationship with Liometopum ants. They produce secretions that the ants will feed on, similar to the Iridomyrmex genus of ants.
See also
- Liometopum apiculatum
- Liometopum luctuosum – the pine tree ant
- Liometopum occidentale – the velvety tree ant
References
- "Genus: Liometopum". antweb.org. AntWeb. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- Hoey-Chamberlain, Rust & Klotz 2013, p. 1
- Hoey-Chamberlain, Rust & Klotz 2013, p. 2
- Hoey-Chamberlain, R; Rust, MK; Klotz, JH (2013), "A Review of the Biology, Ecology and Behavior of Velvety Tree Ants of North America", Sociobiology, 60 (1): 1–10, doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v60i1.1-10
External links
Media related to Liometopum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Liometopum at Wikispecies
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