A Rare Case of the Presence of Ocelli in a Worker of Aenictus pachycerus (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Abstract
The worker caste in species of the genus Aenictus Shuckard, 1840 is entirely blind, devoid of compound eyes and ocelli. In contrast, males of the same species possess large compound eyes and three prominent ocelli, which facilitate orientation and navigation during nuptial flights. In a rare observation, the presence of ocelli was documented in a worker individual of Aenictus pachycerus (F. Smith, 1858), a deviation from the typical worker morphology observed within the genus.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Sociobiology
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e11801–e11801
- Publication date
- 12 March 2026
- Language
- EN