Acropgya

Acropyga ants live almost exclusively underground often among the roots of plants where they feed on mealybug or aphid secretions. On mating flights, new alate Acropyga gynes of pantropical and Mediterranean species carry mealybugs with their mandibles. Presumably these mealybugs are taken from the natal nest and used to inoculate new nests. Inclusions of Acropyga alates with mealybugs have been discovered in Dominican amber that dates back to the Miocene, an indication that this intimate association and relatively uncommon behavior has existed for at least 15-20 million years. This lengthy and intimate association is mirrored in the fact that many of the mealybug species are found only within the nests of their Acropyga tenders. The mealybugs found with the Acropyga females in amber are related to the hypogaeic genera Eumyrmococcus Silvestri and Neochavesia Williams & Granara de Willink (Pseudococcidae, Rhizoecinae) and represent three new species of a new genus. For more information see Acropyga & Azteca in Amber.

Classification: Formicidae: Formicinae: Lasiini: Acropyga (tribal transfer per Bolton 2003)

Reference: Johnson C, Agosti D, Delabie JH, Dumpert K, Williams DJ, Von Tschirnhaus M, & Maschwitz U. (2001) Acropya and Azteca ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with scale insects (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea): 20 million years of intimate symbiosis. American Museum Novitates Number 3335:1-18.