Cytogenetic survey of eight ant species from the Amazon rainforest

Abstract

The scarce information regarding ant diversity in the state of Amapá and lack of cytogenetic data of species from the Amazon region can hide ant biodiversity information that may be detectable with affordable cytogenetic techniques. In this study, we describe the karyotypes of eight ant taxa collected from Amazonian localities in French Guiana and Brazil. Chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 18 to 2n = 68. The following chromosome numbers were observed for each species: Azteca sp. group chartifex 2n = 28; Dolichoderus bidens (Linnaeus, 1758) 2n = 18; Gnamptogenys tortuolosa (Smith, 1858) 2n = 44; Camponotus renggeri Emery, 1894 n = 20; Pseudomyrmex unicolor (Smith, 1855) 2n = 68 and n = 34; Apterostigma sp. pilosum complex 2n = 46; Odontomachus bauri Emery, 1892 2n = 44, and Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863) 2n = 32. The karyotypes of P. unicolor, G. tortuolosa, and O. bauri are reported here for the first time. Our data enabled comparisons between chromosomal data of some species from Amazon and Atlantic rainforests. We also highlight the methods used for the ant chromosome classification.