Mackay Laboratory of Myrmecology
Department of Biological Sciences Room 210
500 West University Avenue
El Paso, Texas 79968
Phone: (915) 747-5443

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Mackay Laboratory of Myrmecology (MLM) is to advance the understanding of ants through research on the taxonomy, systematics and ecology. Our research is directed to mostly on Neotropical taxa, but our scope is world wide.

Objective:

Our vision is to accomplish revisions of notoriously difficult genera through the tools of field collection, comparison of specimens with types, and by the determination of evolutionary relationships of species with cladistic analyses. Our objective is to facilitate the development of functional taxonomies with identification keys to species accompanied by illustrations.

Current Research:

• Solenopsis (Thief ant group). José Pacheco has undertaken a systematic and taxonomic revision of the New World thief ants for his dissertation research. The revision is near completion with the expected publication of Fall 2006 of this infamous cryptic group.
• Crematogaster. Revision of the genus Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of North America being under taken by Cynthia Morgan.
• Procrytocerus. A taxonomic revision and a phylogenetic approaching on this morphologically amazing group of ants, living in twigs in neotropics, is currently carried out by Francisco Serna with the orientation of Dr. W. P. Mackay.
• Xenomyrmex. This small, rarely collected genus is currently being examined taxonomically by Cristina Campbell.
• Hypoponera. A systematic and taxonomic revision of this understudied genus is currently underway. Within the next four years a complete phylogeny and taxonomic assessment will be completed by S. T. Dash.
• Platythyrea. Samuel Del Toro's master's thesis consists of a taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus Platythyrea.
• Dinoponera. Part of an undergraduate research project. Paul Lenhart is working on a systematic and taxonomic revision of these interesting ants.
• Pachycondyla. A revision of the New World species is nearly finished by Bill and Emma Mackay. Several new species are described. Keys are provided, as well as distributional maps and information on all of the species.
• Camponotus. A long term study of the carpenter ants of the New World is in the final stages. Keys, maps and comparisons among species are included.
• Liometopum. This genus is distributed throughout the world; three species are commonly collected in North America. Three can be found in Asia and two more can be found in Europe. Israel Del Toro's current undergraduate research consists of a taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of this fascinating genus.

MLM Collection

Useful Links:

• Ant Base. A useful page that has original descriptions, list of ant taxonomists, information on the ants of leaf litter protocol and other useful research links.
• AntWeb provides tools for exploring the diversity and identification of ants.
• Notes From Underground. An online journal for myrmecologists and maintained by myrmecologists.
• New World Army Ants. The information presented here is the result of an ongoing revisionary study of the New World Ecitoninae and should be considered preliminary. Although still in the early stages, this information is being presented here in the hope that it will prove useful to other workers.
• The Ants of North America. This website contains keys to the genera and species of North American ants. In many cases, all of the New World ants are included.
• Formicidae of Mississippi and Alabama. In an effort to further understand the Formicidae of Mississippi and Alabama, the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) is conducting ongoing surveys of ants in both states.
• Australian Ants. This site provides an overview of the fascinating and diverse Australian ant fauna. It includes information on all genera and many of the species known to occur on mainland Australia, Tasmania, and nearby islands.
• Ants of Costa Rica. This web resource provides species-level information on the ants of Costa Rica.
• Japanese Ant Image Database. References list as well as distribution maps of Japanese ants.
• The Ants of (sub-Saharan) Africa. Catalogue notes on all ant species described from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Kaspari Ant Lab. We study ants and the organisms and ecosystems with which they interact.
• Ward Ant. Systematics and evolutionary biology of ants and other "little things that run the world".
• Myrmecos. Insect photography by Alex Wild. If you would like to have your myrmecological relate webpage added to this list please contact the lab representative Shawn T. Dash stdash@utep.edu.

Last Update: 28 Jul 2006