First Record of the Genus Mycetarotes (Emery, 1913) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from Colombia

Abstract

The genus Mycetarotes is a fungus-growing ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) mostly recorded south of the Amazon: in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Here we report the first record of this genus in Colombia: M. parallelus (Emery, 1906). We collected the specimen using pitfall taps in oil palm plantations. The discovery of this species represents a significant range extension for this genus.

Keywords

• fungus growing ant
• biodiversity
• ants
• oil palm
• Colombian Llanos