# Colobopsis > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colobopsis > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Colobopsis.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colobopsis > Source revision: 1307639139 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Genus of ant}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Colobopsis truncata casent0179881 p 1 high.jpg | image_caption = Type species ''[Colobopsis truncata](/source/Colobopsis_truncata)'' worker | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Colobopsis | authority = Mayr, 1861 | type_species = ''Formica truncata'' | type_species_authority = Spinola, 1808 | diversity_link = List of Colobopsis species | diversity = 95 species | diversity_ref = }} [[File:Colobopsis mississippiensis P1440474a.jpg|thumb|''[Colobopsis mississippiensis](/source/Colobopsis_mississippiensis)'' alate]] '''''Colobopsis''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of [ant](/source/ant)s in the subfamily [Formicinae](/source/Formicinae). This genus was first described in 1861 by Mayr and contains 95 species. The type species is ''[Colobopsis truncata](/source/Colobopsis_truncata)''.{{Cite web|url=https://www.antweb.org/description.do?subfamily=formicinae&genus=colobopsis&rank=genus&project=allantwebants|title=Colobopsis|website=www.antweb.org|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}}{{Cite journal|last=Wheeler|first=William M.|title=THE AMERICAN ANTS OF THE SUBGENUS COLOBOPSIS.|pages=20|hdl=2246/623|year=1904}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.antcat.org/catalog/464151|title=Colobopsis - AntCat|website=www.antcat.org|access-date=2019-08-28}} == Description == As part of [Camponotini](/source/Camponotini), ''Colobopsis'' workers have distinctive [mandibular](/source/Mandible_(insect_mouthpart)) dentition (5-8 teeth with the 3rd tooth from the apex not being reduced), [antennae](/source/Antenna_(biology)) 12-segmented and antennal separations well separated from the posterior [clypeal](/source/Clypeus_(arthropod_anatomy)) margin.{{Cite journal |last1=Ward |first1=Philip S. |last2=Blaimer |first2=Bonnie B. |last3=Fisher |first3=Brian L. |date=2016-02-02 |title=A revised phylogenetic classification of the ant subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with resurrection of the genera Colobopsis and Dinomyrmex |url=http://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4072.3.4 |journal=Zootaxa |volume=4072 |issue=3 |pages=343–357 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4 |pmid=27395929 |issn=1175-5334|doi-access=free }} ''Colobopsis'' workers are dimorphic, being divided into major workers and minor workers. The major workers generally have [phragmotic](/source/Phragmosis) heads that are truncate to varying extents. This may cause them to be confused for ''[Camponotus](/source/Carpenter_ant)'' and vice versa, since some ''Camponotus'' also have phragmotic heads. Queens of ''Colobopsis'' have phragmotic heads as well.{{Cite web |title=Colobopsis - AntWiki |url=https://antwiki.org/wiki/Colobopsis |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=antwiki.org |language=en}} Workers in the ''Colobopsis cylindrica'' group have greatly developed mandibular glands that extend from the head all the way to the end of the gaster.{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=T. H. |last2=Clark |first2=D. A. |last3=Edwards |first3=A. A. |last4=Davidson |first4=D. W. |last5=Spande |first5=T. F. |last6=Snelling |first6=R. R. |date=2004 |title=THE CHEMISTRY OF EXPLODING ANTS, ''Camponotus'' SPP. (''cylindricus'' COMPLEX) |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28 |journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology |language=en |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=1479–1492 |doi=10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28 |pmid=15537154 |bibcode=2004JCEco..30.1479J |s2cid=23756265 |issn=0098-0331|url-access=subscription }} [Pupae](/source/Pupa) of ''Colobopsis'' are always naked. This is unlike pupae of ''Camponotus'', which are enclosed in cocoons. == Biology == ''Colobopsis'' make their nests in plant material such as wood, [galls](/source/Gall) and dead branches. The entrances to these nests are as wide as the truncate heads of major workers and queens. This allows a major worker or queen to plug an entrance using her head (phragmosis). To allow nestmates to pass, the soldier/queen moves back into the nest tunnel, which widens immediately past the entrance. Workers in the ''[Colobopsis cylindrica](/source/Colobopsis_cylindrica)'' group (including ''[Colobopsis explodens](/source/Colobopsis_explodens)'' and ''[Colobopsis saundersi](/source/Colobopsis_saundersi)'') have the ability to burst the gaster, releasing mandibular gland compounds from the head ([autothysis](/source/autothysis)). For this, they are known as "exploding ants". This is used against competitors and predators, and is fatal to the worker itself but benefits the colony. == Phylogeny == For a period of time, ''Colobopsis'' was considered a subgenus of ''Camponotus''. A 2015 [phylogenomic](/source/Phylogenomics) study found it to be the [sister group](/source/sister_group) to all the remaining Camponotini.{{Cite journal |last1=Blaimer |first1=Bonnie B. |last2=Brady |first2=Seán G. |last3=Schultz |first3=Ted R. |last4=Lloyd |first4=Michael W. |last5=Fisher |first5=Brian L. |last6=Ward |first6=Philip S. |date=2015 |title=Phylogenomic methods outperform traditional multi-locus approaches in resolving deep evolutionary history: a case study of formicine ants |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=271 |doi=10.1186/s12862-015-0552-5 |issn=1471-2148 |pmc=4670518 |pmid=26637372 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2015BMCEE..15..271B }} Consequently, ''Colobopsis'' has been treated as its own genus again. ==Species== {{Hatnote|See [List of ''Colobopsis'' species](/source/List_of_Colobopsis_species) for a complete listing of species and subspecies.}} Selected species: *''[Colobopsis abdita](/source/Colobopsis_abdita)'' *''[Colobopsis anderseni](/source/Colobopsis_anderseni)'' *''[Colobopsis ceylonica](/source/Colobopsis_ceylonica)'' *''[Colobopsis explodens](/source/Colobopsis_explodens)'' *''[Colobopsis saundersi](/source/Colobopsis_saundersi)'' *''[Colobopsis schmitzi](/source/Colobopsis_schmitzi)'' *''[Colobopsis truncata](/source/Colobopsis_truncata)'' ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q9815577}} Category:Colobopsis Category:Formicinae Category:Ant genera --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colobopsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colobopsis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colobopsis?action=history)). 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