Anonychomyrma itinerans depilis
| Anonychomyrma itinerans depilis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Anonychomyrma |
| Species: | A. itinerans |
| Subspecies: | A. itinerans depilis |
| Trinomial name | |
| Anonychomyrma itinerans depilis (Forel, 1902)
| |
Contents
Identification
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Biology
Anonychomyrma species are common in moist to semi-arid forested areas (and are less common in rain forests). They nest either in soil with or without coverings, or arboreally in living or dead wood. Workers forage in conspicuous trails on the ground and on tree trunks. Although not studied in detail, they seem to be general predators and also collect plant juices. Some species are associated with the caterpillars of selected butterflies. Nest sizes are moderate to large, ranging from 500 to tens of thousands of workers. When disturbed, most species elevate their gasters and release strong, acrid smelling chemicals as a defensive measure. While similar to Iridomyrmex in general habitat preferences and ecology, most Anonychomyrma prefer moister sites and are predominately arboreal. Iridomyrmex species occur in drier sites and are predominantly terrestrial.
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.
- depilis. Iridomyrmex itinerans var. depilis Forel, 1902h: 471 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Anonychomyrma: Shattuck, 1992a: 13. Currently subspecies of itinerans: Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 100.
Type Material
- Iridomyrmex itinerans depilis Forel, 1902: Syntype, 2 workers, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Turner,G., ANIC32-015057, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Iridomyrmex itinerans depilis Forel, 1902: Syntype, 4 workers, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- Iridomyrmex itinerans depilis Forel, 1902: Syntype, 12 workers, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
- Iridomyrmex itinerans depilis Forel, 1902: Syntype, 1 worker, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Naturhistorisches Museum Basel.
Description
References
- Forel, A. 1902j. Fourmis nouvelles d'Australie. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 405-548 (page 471, worker described)
- Shattuck, S. O. 1992a. Review of the dolichoderine ant genus Iridomyrmex Mayr with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Aust. Entomol. Soc. 31: 13-18 (page 13, combination in Anonychomyrma)
- Taylor, R. W.; Brown, D. R. 1985. Formicoidea. Zool. Cat. Aust. 2:1- 149: 1-149, 30 (page 100, subspecies of itinerans)
