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Aenictus steindachneri
| Aenictus steindachneri | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Aenictus |
| Species group: | rotundatus |
| Species complex: | mariae |
| Species: | A. steindachneri |
| Binomial name | |
| Aenictus steindachneri Mayr, 1901
| |
Identification
This species can be separated from the rest of the group as it presents a quite dense white pubescence directed backwards at the meso and especially at the metapleurae. The other species may present some isolated small setae, but never becoming pubescent in appearance. It also presents the most developed propodeal process of the four species in this complex.
Its general shape, size and colour might resemble Aenictus rotundatus, but can be separated due to its shorter scapes (SIL >60 for rotundatus) and cited pubescence.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -20° to -24.90867°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps; Gomez, 2022
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality), Zimbabwe.
Distribution based on AntMaps
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
Known only from the worker caste.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- steindachneri. Aenictus steindachneri Mayr, 1901b: 2 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: South Africa: Orange Free State, Reddersburg (H. Brauns).
- Type-depository: NHMW.
- Status as species: Emery, 1904a: 111; Emery, 1910b: 31; Santschi, 1914b: 69; Arnold, 1915: 139; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 754; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 201.
- Distribution: Kenya, South Africa.
Type Material
- Syntypes, SOUTH AFRICA: Orange [CASENT0911440] (4w) NHMB [Examined by Gomez, 2022]; Syntype, SOUTH AFRICA: Free State, Reddesburg (1w) [CASENT0919642] NMHW: Coll. Mayr [Examined by Gomez, 2022]; Syntypes, SOUTH AFRICA: Free State, Orange (Arnold) (6w) MHNG: Coll. Forel [Examined by Gomez, 2022].
Gomez (2022): There is a series of 8 workers at MNHW from Reddesburg, identified by E. Mayr as types for “A. rotundatus laevigatus”, probably part of the type series for A. steindachneri, but not labelled as such.
Description
References
- Gomez, K. 2022. A revision of the Afrotropical species of the Dorylinae ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Belgian Journal of Entomology 124: 1–86 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.5898821).
- Mayr, G. 1901b. Südafrikanische Formiciden, gesammelt von Dr. Hans Brauns. Ann. K-K. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 16: 1-30 (page 2, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1915. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part I. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum 14: 1-159.
- Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.