Dorymyrmex bicolor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorymyrmex bicolor |
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| Dorymyrmex bicolor worker | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Dolichoderinae
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| Genus: |
Dorymyrmex
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| Species: |
D. bicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Dorymyrmex bicolor Wheeler, 1906
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Dorymyrmex bicolor is a fascinating type of ant. It belongs to a group of ants called Dolichoderinae (doh-lik-oh-der-EYE-nee). This ant was once known as Conomyrma bicolor, but its name was changed to Dorymyrmex bicolor.
These ants have a single "petiole," which is a narrow waist-like part connecting their body sections. They also have a special opening that releases chemicals. But don't worry, these ants cannot sting! You can mostly find Dorymyrmex bicolor ants living in dry, desert areas. They are common in Central and South America, and also in the southwestern United States.
Clever Ant Tricks
Dorymyrmex bicolor ants often interact with another type of ant called Myrmecocystus. In the southwestern United States, these two ant groups often look for the same food and share the same living spaces.
Myrmecocystus ants have a trick to keep other ants away from their food. They release a special liquid from their poison gland onto the food. This liquid makes other ants not want to go near it.
But Dorymyrmex bicolor ants have their own clever way to deal with rivals. They show a unique behavior to stop other ants. Workers from a Dorymyrmex bicolor colony will gather around the entrance of a Myrmecocystus nest. Then, they start dropping small stones and other objects right down the entrance! They do this to try and block the nest's opening.
Scientists have seen many Dorymyrmex bicolor workers doing this, sometimes 10 to 30 ants at once. However, even just 5 workers can drop enough stones to really bother the Myrmecocystus nest. When many Dorymyrmex bicolor ants are in an area, the number of Myrmecocystus ants nearby often goes down a lot.
Where They Live
The Dorymyrmex bicolor ant can be found in many places. Their known home range stretches across the Southwestern United States. This includes states like California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
They also live in northern and southern Mexico, including Baja California. You can find them in Central American countries too, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Peru, and Honduras. Plus, they live on some island nations in the Caribbean, like Jamaica.
Daily Life of the Ant
Dorymyrmex bicolor ants spend most of their time looking for food. Because they are always foraging, they play a role in how plant seeds spread and grow.
These ants are very fast movers. They are active from early in the afternoon until late in the day. They build their nests in a unique way. Their nests are shaped like craters and are made from fine sand. Even though they mostly live in deserts, they can also be found in places with more humidity.
See also
Want to learn about Dorymyrmex bicolor in Spanish? Check out this page: 
Dorymyrmex bicolor para niños
