Leptothorax is a genus of small ants with mainly Holarctic distributions. The genus is notable for its widespread social parasitism, i.e. they are dependent on the help of workers from other ant species during a part or the whole of their life cycles.[citation needed]

Leptothorax
L. acervorum dealate queen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Leptothorax
Mayr, 1855
Type species
Formica acervorum
Fabricius, 1793
Diversity[1]
21 species
Synonyms
  • Doronomyrmex Kutter, 1945
  • Mychothorax Ruzsky, 1904

Closely related genera are Cardiocondyla, Stereomyrmex and Romblonella.[2]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Leptothorax". AntCat. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  2. ^ Taylor, Robert W. (1991). "Notes on the ant genera Romblonella and Willowsiella, with comments on their affinities, and the first descriptions of Australian species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)". Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 97 (3–4): 281–298. doi:10.1155/1990/29514.