Cephalotini
Encyclopedia
Cephalotini is a tribe
of ant
s in the subfamily Myrmicinae
. Although they are wingless, biologists have observed them gliding
.http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/02/09_ants.shtml They will glide back to the trunk of their tree, which is much safer than the ground or water below. They are among a number of groups of gliding ant
s. They feed mainly on nectar and avian excretion
.
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s in the subfamily Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants. There are about 140 genera within the group, with the family being cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes...
. Although they are wingless, biologists have observed them gliding
Flying and gliding animals
A number of animals have evolved aerial locomotion, either by powered flight or by gliding. Flying and gliding animals have evolved separately many times, without any single ancestor. Flight has evolved at least four times, in the insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats. Gliding has evolved on many...
.http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2005/02/09_ants.shtml They will glide back to the trunk of their tree, which is much safer than the ground or water below. They are among a number of groups of gliding ant
Gliding ant
Gliding ants are arboreal ants of several different genera that are able to control the direction of their descent when falling from a tree. Living in the rainforest canopy like many other gliders, gliding ants use their gliding to return to the trunk of the tree they live on should they fall or be...
s. They feed mainly on nectar and avian excretion
Excretion
Excretion is the process by which waste products of metabolism and other non-useful materials are eliminated from an organism. This is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys and skin. This is in contrast with secretion, where the substance may have specific tasks after leaving the cell...
.