Belonopelta attenuata

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Belonopelta attenuata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Alliance: Pachycondyla genus group
Genus: Belonopelta
Species: B. attenuata
Binomial name
Belonopelta attenuata
Mayr, 1870

This species is rare and little is known about its biology, especially when compared to its only congener Belonopelta deletrix. Based on what is known of this other species (see the biology section of the deletrix species page for observations of colonies collected by E.O. Wilson) and the morphology of the mandibles of attenuata this ant is likely a cryptobiotic predator of diplurans and/or other soft-bodied arthropods.

Identification

Mann (1922) - Belonopelta deletrix differs from Belonopelta attenuata in its shorter and broader head, the clypeus more projecting and narrowly rounded in front, the more slender and arcuate mandibles with much longer tips, the longer antennal scapes, smaller size and in having on the head coarser, separated punctures in addition to the dense and subtile punctation.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.3° to 5.3°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (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

Nomenclature

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

  • attenuata. Belonopelta attenuata Mayr, 1870a: 395, pl. 1, fig. 11 (w.) COLOMBIA (“New Granada”).
    • Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 43; Emery, 1901a: 44; Emery, 1911d: 88; Wheeler, W.M. 1935d: 10; Kempf, 1972a: 37; Baroni Urbani, 1975b: 300 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 80; Zabala, 2008: 137 (in key) ; Fernández & Guerrero, 2019: 517.

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

Description

Baroni Urbani 1995. Page 300
Baroni Urbani 1995. Page 301
Baroni Urbani 1995. Page 302

References