Taxonomic history
Emery, 1905f: 43 (q.m.); Bruch, 1921 PDF: 199 (q.m.); Goñi et al., 1984 PDF: 365 (k.).Combination in Acromyrmex: Bruch, 1914 PDF: 217.Combination in Acromyrmex (Moellerius): Fowler, 1988b: 287.Senior synonym of Acromyrmex heyeri gaudens: Fowler, 1988b: 287.Senior synonym of Acromyrmex heyeri lillensis: Fowler, 1988b: 287.See also: Gonçalves, 1961 PDF: 127.Misiones, Ñeembucú (ALWC, IFML). Literature records: Misiones, Pte. Hayes (Fowler 1985).
Acromyrmex heyeri is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex.
This species is found in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.[2]
Acromyrmex heyeri workers construct the colonies nest by thatching together cut grass. At temperatures ranging from 20–30 °C, workers created more openings in the nest thatch as the internal nest temperature goes up as a method of temperature regulation for the colony. The workers will close openings in the nest thatch as the air humidity surrounding the nest decreases to reduce water loss for the colony.
Studies using isoenzyme systems MDH, a-GPDH, and AMY show the occurrence of monogyny and polygyny associated or not with polyandry, which indicates that the social organization is colony-specific. The polygyny and polyandry observed are likely to be responsible for the great genotypic diversity of the species colonies. The average inbreeding coefficient per colony is higher in Acromyrmex striatus than in Acromyrmex heyeri, which may reflect the different patterns of production of sexual individuals and nuptial flight of those two species.
Acromyrmex heyeri is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Acromyrmex.
