Myrmecocystus

Myrmecocystus (from Koine Greek μυρμήκιον [mýrmikion], meaning "ant", and κύστις [kýstis], meaning "bladder" or "sac") is a North American genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. It is one of five genera that includes honeypot ants. Worker ants keep and tend plerergates, which are other ants that store large quantities of nutritious fluid in their abdomens to feed the colony during famine times. Some species engage in highly territorial tournaments, which can result in intraspecific slavery. During the raids, they carry off larvae, workers, and plerergates.

Species

 * Myrmecocystus christineae Snelling, 1982
 * Myrmecocystus colei Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus creightoni Snelling, 1971
 * Myrmecocystus depilis Forel, 1901
 * Myrmecocystus ewarti Snelling, 1971
 * Myrmecocystus flaviceps Wheeler, 1912
 * Myrmecocystus hammettensis Cole, 1938
 * Myrmecocystus intonsus Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus kathjuli Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus kennedyi Snelling, 1969
 * Myrmecocystus koso Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus lugubris Wheeler, 1909
 * Myrmecocystus melanoticus Wheeler, 1914
 * Myrmecocystus melliger Forel, 1886
 * Myrmecocystus mendax Wheeler, 1908
 * Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael, 1838
 * Myrmecocystus mimicus Wheeler, 1908
 * Myrmecocystus navajo Wheeler, 1908
 * Myrmecocystus nequazcatl Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus perimeces Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus placodops Forel, 1908
 * Myrmecocystus pyramicus Smith, 1951
 * Myrmecocystus romainei Hunt & Snelling, 1975
 * Myrmecocystus semirufus Emery, 1893
 * Myrmecocystus snellingi Bolton, 1995
 * Myrmecocystus tenuinodis Snelling, 1976
 * Myrmecocystus testaceus Emery, 1893
 * Myrmecocystus wheeleri Snelling, 1971
 * Myrmecocystus yuma Wheeler, 1912

Media

 * Natural World: Empire of the Desert Ants, BBC TWO 10 August 2011, 8 pm BST; information about it on BBC Nature