dacetini

Pyramica (or is it Strumigenys?) rostrata, Illinois I've been thinking today about the Wikipedia edits to the Pyramica page, and my curiosity about the controversy prodded me to attempt a quick phylogenetic analysis.  Before I get to the analysis, though, here is some background. The Ants.  Forests in warmer regions around the world hold a great number of tiny, sluggish ants covered with bizarre hairs of unknown function.  These oddly ornate little insects are predators of other arthropods.  Mites, springtails, and the like.  Because of their size, their preference for below-ground prey…