Pseudomyrmex triplarinus

Pseudomyrmex triplarinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Pseudomyrmecinae
Genus: Pseudomyrmex
Species: P. triplarinus
Binomial name
Pseudomyrmex triplarinus
(Weddell, 1850)[1]

Pseudomyrmex triplarinus is a venomous species of ant that lives in symbiosis with trees of the genus Triplaris, including the South American species T. americana, T. cumingiama, and T. felipensis. The ant protects the trees against predation by other insects and animals.[2] The ant's venom has anti-inflammatory properties.[3]

References

  1. Weddell Hugh A. (1850) Additions a la flore de l'America du sul (Suite). Annales des sciences naturelles Botanique13 (3): 249-268.
  2. Ward, Philip S. (1 August 1999). "Systematics, biogeography and host plant associations of the Pseudomyrmex viduus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Triplaris- and Tachigali-inhabiting ants". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 126 (4): 451–540. doi:10.1006/zjls.1998.0158.
  3. Pan, Jingzhi; Hink, W.F. (1 October 2000). "Isolation and characterization of myrmexins, six isoforms of venom proteins with anti-inflammatory activity from the tropical ant, Pseudomyrmex triplarinus". Toxicon. 38 (10): 1403–1413. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(99)00233-0. PMID 10758275.


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