Paratrechina longicornis

Nomenclature

Species: Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802)

Usage: valid
Vernacular name: Black Crazy Ant
Vernacular name: Longhorn Ant

External links

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Worker castes monomorphic. Antenna 12-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scape length greater than 1.5x head length. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets); break outline of head. Dorsum of mesosoma with metanotal impression, but never with a deep and broad concavity. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Waist 1-segmented (may be hidden by gaster). Petiole upright and not appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore. Erect hairs long thick and produced in pairs. Color dark brown to black.

Among introduced and commonly intercepted ants of the United States, P. longicornis is recognizable by its extremely long antennae and legs. Anoplolepis gracilipes is the only other species under consideration with antennal scapes greater than 1.5x head, and P. longicornis is easily differentiated by its darker color (dark brown to black versus light yellowish to reddish brown) and by its long, stiff pilosity that is arranged in pairs. Paraparatrechina is differentiated from Nylanderia by its bulging eyes which break the head outline (versus do not break head outline), and by its longer antennal scapes.

Look alikes

Anoplolepis gracilipes, Nylanderia species

Distribution

Click here for updated occurrence data and map on antmaps.org
Click here for updated occurrence data and map on GBIF.org

Videos of live ants

Paratrechina longicornis at sugar bait, Hawaii, 3-28-2011

Paratrechina longicornis recruiting to dead bee, Waikoloa, Hawaii, 03-29-2011

Paratrechina longicornis ground foraging, Hawaii, 03-28-2011

<em>Paratrechina longicornis</em> at sugar bait

Paratrechina longicornis at cotton ball and sugar solution bait (Suva, Fiji). Notice the very long limbs, slender body, and dark color.

Lateral view of body, entire, adult.	Dorsal view of body, entire, adult.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Long thick hairs arranged in pairs on head.	Anterior view of eye / ocellus, adult worker. Eyes bulging and breaking outline of face.
Anterior view of antennal scape, adult worker. The antennal scapes are extremely long, their length measuring more than 1.5x the length of the head. Used in Antkey to separate Anoplolepis gracilipes and Paratrechina longicornis from other Formicinae genera.	Lateral view of acidopore, adult worker. Gaster armed with acidopore.