Diacamma rugosum, also known as the Bornean queenless ant or Asian bullet ant, is a species of ant of the subfamily Ponerinae. It is found in many countries throughout Southeast Asia. 20 subspecies are recognized.
Diacamma rugosum is noted for being one of the only species of ants to completely lack a queen caste. Reproduction is done entirely by workers, with all workers being fertile upon birth. However, reproduction is kept strictly under control in the nest, with only one dominant female, or gamergate, laying all of the eggs. The gamergate will render workers sterile by mutilating their vestigial wing buds as soon as they pupate. These infertile workers, called callows, will remain loyal to the present gamergate and allow her to exercise control over the rest of the workers. This works to reduce colony infighting as it makes usurpation virtually impossible, and the only time the gamergate is replaced is if she dies naturally.
Subspecies Diacamma rugosum anceps Matsumura & Uchida, 1926 - China Diacamma rugosum arcuatum Karavaiev, 1925 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum balinense Karavaiev, 1925 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum birmanum Emery, 1887 - Myanmar Diacamma rugosum celebense Emery, 1887 - Indonesia, Sulawesi Diacamma rugosum doveri Mukerjee, 1934 - India Diacamma rugosum gibbosum Karavaiev, 1935 - Vietnam Diacamma rugosum hortense Karavaiev, 1925 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum javanum Emery, 1887 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum jerdoni Forel, 1903 - India Diacamma rugosum latispinum Karavaiev, 1925 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum lombokense Emery, 1897 - Indonesia Diacamma rugosum longiceps Santschi, 1932 - Vietnam Diacamma rugosum ovale Karavaiev, 1935 - Vietnam Diacamma rugosum rothneyi Forel, 1900 - India Diacamma rugosum rugosum (Le Guillou, 1842) - Borneo, Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, China Diacamma rugosum sculptum Jerdon, 1851 - Bangladesh, India, Nepal Diacamma rugosum sikkimense Forel, 1903 - India Diacamma rugosum timorense Emery, 1887 - Indonesia, Timor Diacamma rugosum viridipurpureum Emery, 1893 - Philippine, India, China
References
External links
at antwiki.org