Acropyga decedens

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Acropyga decedens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Plagiolepidini
Genus: Acropyga
Species: A. decedens
Binomial name
Acropyga decedens
(Mayr, 1887)

Acropyga decedens casent0249915 p 1 high.jpg

Acropyga decedens casent0249915 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

LaPolla (2004) - It has been reported as being trophophoretic, and associated with at least 3 mealybug species: Geococcus coffeae, Neochavesia sp., Rhizoecus coffeae. Though it should be noted that in the literature Acropyga goeldii has often been misidentified as A. decedens so the mealybug records must be considered suspect.

Identification

LaPolla (2004) - Worker: 9-11 segmented antennae; mandible broad with 4-5 teeth, nearly at right with inner mandibular margin; apical tooth distinctly longer than other teeth; head broader than long. Queen: as in worker with modifications expected for caste. Male: 12 segmented antennae; parameres taper to a point; cuspi bend toward and meet digiti. Compare with Acropyga donisthorpei, Acropyga goeldii and Acropyga guianensis.

This species can be distinguished from Acropyga donisthorpei by having an inner mandibular margin that is not at a distinct right angle with the anterior c1ypeal margin. A. decedens can be distinguished from Acropyga guianensis because that species always possesses a head that is distinctly longer than broad. In the case of Acropyga goeldii diagnosis can be difficult if the specimen possesses a 4-toothed mandible. The mandible is always broader in A. decedens than it is in A. goeldii, however the difference can be hard to distinguish if you haven't looked at a lot of Acropyga specimens. It is therefore not surprising given the similarity of A. decedens and A. goeldii workers that the latter species was considered a junior synonym of the former by Costa Lima (1931). The best way of separating the two species is with associated male specimens, for males of the two species are relatively easy to distinguish from one another, and in fact indicate they are not closely related to one another despite the similarity in the worker caste.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.266667° to -27.644°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Brazil (type locality), Ecuador.

From LaPolla (2004): I have only seen specimens of this species from one locality in Brazil (type locality) and one in Ecuador, though it has been reported from a number of localities throughout South America.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Acrop decedens JHB04598P03 MDB.jpgAcrop decedens JHB04598P03 HFV.jpgAcrop decedens JHB04598P03 LAT.jpg
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Phylogeny

Acropyga

Acropyga ayanganna

Acropyga donisthorpei

Acropyga panamensis

Acropyga guianensis

Acropyga stenotes

Acropyga fuhrmanni

Acropyga smithii

Acropyga romeo

Acropyga hirsutula

Acropyga dubitata

Acropyga decedens, Acropyga goeldii

Acropyga epedana

Acropyga arnoldi

Acropyga silvestrii

Acropyga kinomurai

Acropyga lauta

Acropyga sauteri

Acropyga acutiventris

Acropyga myops

Acropyga butteli

Acropyga ambigua

Acropyga pallida

Based on Blaimer et al., 2016. Note only selected Acropyga species are included, and undescribed species are excluded.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • decedens. Brachymyrmex decedens Mayr, 1887: 521 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (Santa Catarina).
    • [Misspelled as decdens by Borgmeier, 1927c: 137.]
    • Combination in Rhizomyrma: Emery, 1906c: 184;
    • combination in Acropyga (Rhizomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 29.
    • Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 174; Forel, 1895b: 106; Emery, 1925b: 29; Borgmeier, 1927c: 137; Wheeler, W.M. 1935f: 327; Donisthorpe, 1936b: 110 (in list); Weber, 1944: 92 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 17; Bolton, 1995b: 57; LaPolla, 2004a: 40 (redescription).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

LaPolla (2004) - (n=4): TL: 2.02-2.59; HW: 0.507-0.584; HL: 0.505-0.602; SL: 0.36-0.459; ML: 0.603-0.71; GL: 0.818-1.28; CI: 96.68-106.53; SI: 69.70-78.87.

Head: yellow; typically broader than long; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with shorter erect hairs toward posterior margin; posterior margin entire to slightly concave; 9-11 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape reaches to posterior margin; mandible with 4-5 teeth; 3rd tooth smaller than others when 5 teeth present; apical tooth often distinctly longer than other teeth; inner mandibular margin and anterior c1ypeal margin at slight less than right angles to each other. Mesosoma: yellow; covered in thick layer of appressed to erect hairs; pronotum in lateral view rises toward rounded mesonotum; mesonotum slightly higher than propodeum, dorsally with longer erect hairs and thick layer of appressed hairs; metanotal area distinct; propodeum with short erect hairs; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole thick and erect, slightly thinner toward apex, reaching height of propodeal spiracle; gaster yellow; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs with many erect hairs throughout.

Queen

LaPolla (2004) - (n=2): TL: 3.07-3.11; HW: 0.698-0.736; HL: 0.597-0.615; SL: 0.508-0.515; ML:1.08-1.1; GL: 1.37-1.41; CI: 116.92-119.67; SI: 69.02-73.78. As in worker with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: brownish-yellow; eyes black; head much broader than long; apical tooth very long, almost 2x length of 2nd tooth.

Male

LaPolla (2004) - (n=1): TL: -; HW: 0.381; HL: 0.402; SL: 0.304; ML: 0.687; GL: -; CI: 94.78; SI: 79.79.

Head: brownish-yellow, brown toward apex around 3 prominent ocelli; head longer than broad; eyes large, filling nearly all of lower lateral sides of head; covered in a layer of appressed to short erect hairs; 12 segmented antennae; scapes surpass posterior margin by about half the length of pedicel; c1ypeus broad, slightly convex, with erect hairs; mandible with 3 distinct teeth, the 2nd tooth smaller than others; a diastema present between apical and 2nd teeth; gap present between inner mandibular margin and anterior c1ypeal margin. Mesosoma: pronotum collar-like, overarched by mesonotum; mesonotum flat, covered in appressed to short erect hairs; propodeum flat with short erect hairs; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole erect, slightly convex at apex; gaster brownish-yellow, lighter than head and mesosoma; covered in appressed hairs, with scattered suberect to erect hairs throughout. Genitalia: parameres taper to a point; parameres with many long erect hairs across surface; cuspi bent toward digiti, and meet digiti dorsally; both structures with short, peg-like teeth at apex; digiti thick, rounded apically.

Type Material

Brachymyrmex decedens Mayr, 1887: 521 (w.q.m.). 6 syntype workers, 3 syntype queens, 1 syntype male, BRAZIL: St. Catharina (G. Mayr) (NHMV) [examined]. The designated lectotype is a worker labeled JSL TYPE # 115 and is deposited at NHMV. Emery, 1906: 184, first combination in Rhizomyrma; Emery, 1925: 29, first combination in Acropyga.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Borgmeier T. 1927. Um caso de trophobiose entre uma formiga e um parasita do caféeiro. Boletim do Museu Nacional de Rio de Janeiro 3: 285-289.
  • Dias N. S., R. Zanetti, M. S. Santos, J. Louzada, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2008. Interaction between forest fragments and adjacent coffee and pasture agroecosystems: responses of the ant communities (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre, 98(1): 136-142.
  • Fichaux M., B. Bechade, J. Donald, A. Weyna, J. H. C. Delabie, J. Murienne, C. Baraloto, and J. Orivel. 2019. Habitats shape taxonomic and functional composition of Neotropical ant assemblages. Oecologia 189(2): 501-513.
  • Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
  • Groc S., J. H. C. Delabie, F. Fernandez, M. Leponce, J. Orivel, R. Silvestre, Heraldo L. Vasconcelos, and A. Dejean. 2013. Leaf-litter ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a pristine Guianese rainforest: stable functional structure versus high species turnover. Myrmecological News 19: 43-51.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • LaPolla J.S. 2004. Acropyga (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the world. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 33(3): 1-130.
  • Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.
  • Silva R.R., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2014. Ecosystem-Wide Morphological Structure of Leaf-Litter Ant Communities along a Tropical Latitudinal Gradient. PLoSONE 9(3): e93049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093049