Adelomyrmex micans

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Adelomyrmex micans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Adelomyrmex
Species: A. micans
Binomial name
Adelomyrmex micans
Fernández, 2003

Adelomyrmex micans casent0600937 profile 1.jpg

Adelomyrmex micans casent0600937 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Adelomyrmex micans is a high elevation specialist inhabiting mature cloud forest from 1700–2700 m, usually above 2000 m. Most specimens are from sifted litter, and when present it occurs in 1–5% of quantitative miniWinkler samples. Workers are occasionally encountered at baits. At a site in the Cordillera de Chiapas, LLAMA project participant D. J. Cox hand-collected a specimen 25 m high in a cloud forest tree, by searching under epiphytes. (Longino 2012)

Identification

This species is easily recognizable, as the head is smooth and shiny as no other species of the genus in Mesoamerica. Much of the remainder of the body is also smooth and glossy, except for a few small areas with sculpture. The propodeum has angulate corners instead of teeth or spines. It is notable that some of the workers have well defined ocelli, a characteristic which is not found in the other species in the genus and a phenomenon which is rare in the Myrmicinae. These specimens are obviously workers and are not intercastes. The hypostomal tooth is small, and difficult to see, and may even be absent.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.5° to 14.4567631°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (type locality).

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

Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

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

  • micans. Adelomyrmex micans Fernández, in Fernández & Mackay, 2003: 601 (w.q.) MEXICO (Chiapas).
    • Status as species: Fernández, 2003b: 23 (redescription); Branstetter & Sáenz, 2012: 257; Longino, 2012: 23.

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

Description

Worker

Head slightly concave posteriorly. Mandibles with 7 teeth, the three apical-most larger. Anterior margin of clypeal plate straight. Clypeal plate dorsally with longitudinal carinae which extends to the level of the antennal insertions. Eyes with about 8 ommatidia. Some workers with 3 ocelli. Hypostomal tooth very small. Promesonotum slightly convex. Metanotal groove well marked. Propodeum angulate, without teeth. Genae with several longitudinal rugulae. Three longitudinal rugulae extending from frontal lobes. Propodeal dorsum with 4 transverse striae, posterior face smooth and shining with 4 longitudinal striae. Dorsum of body with numerous long hairs. Propodeum with short scattered hairs. Body dark brown, appendages lighter.

Queen

As worker with the typical traits of myrmicine queens. Hypostomal teeth not easily visible.

References

  • Fernández, F. 2003b. Revision of the myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 361: 1-52 (page 23, see also)
  • Fernández, F.; Mackay, W. P. 2003. Myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex laevigatus species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 41: 593-604 (page 601, worker, queen described)
  • Longino, J.T. 2012. A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America. Zootaxa 3456, 1–35.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • Longino J. T. 2012. A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America. Zootaxa 3456: 1-35
  • Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133