Morphology of External Genitalia in the Genus <i>Acanthoponera</i> Mayr, with Redescription of <i>A. mucronata</i> (Roger) Male (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae)

In this study, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy, we give a detailed description of the <i>Acanthoponera mucronata</i> male, supplementing the former male-based genus diagnoses. In particular, we described for the first time the following characters: the mor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stefano Cantone, Andrea Di Giulio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/436
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Summary:In this study, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy, we give a detailed description of the <i>Acanthoponera mucronata</i> male, supplementing the former male-based genus diagnoses. In particular, we described for the first time the following characters: the morphology of the external genitalia, the peculiar antennal cleaning and the absence of the metapleural gland orifice. In addition, we show the pretarsal claws and the ventral excavation in the gaster that represent diagnostic male features of all <i>Acanthoponera</i> species, never imaged before. The use of modern taxonomic standards is particularly important in order to make these data available to future comparative analyses.
ISSN:2075-4450