Carebara diversa williamsi

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Carebara diversa williamsi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Carebara
Species: C. diversa
Subspecies: C. diversa williamsi
Trinomial name
Carebara diversa williamsi
(Wheeler, W.M., 1929)

Identification

Wheeler (1929) - This subspecies is quite distinct from philippinus in the large size of the soldier, paler color of the workers and especially in the male. Smaller workers of the two forms are much more difficult to distinguish.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Philippines (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.

  • williamsi. Pheidologeton diversus subsp. williamsi Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 49 (s.w.m.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I., Mindanao I.).
    • Type-material: syntype workers of all sizes (number not stated, “a number”), 5 syntype males.
    • Type-locality: Philippines: Luzon, Los Baños (F.X. Williams).
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Combination in Carebara: Fischer, et al. 2014: 71.
    • Subspecies of diversa: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 159; Baltazar, 1966: 258; Ettershank, 1966: 119; Bolton, 1995b: 334.
    • Distribution: Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao).

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

Description

Worker

Soldier (ocellate). Length about 14 mm.

Larger than the preceding subspecies but with the head of the same shape, 5 mm. long, 5.5 mm. broad. Petiolar border entire. Scutellum very protuberant and globose. Sculpture of the head and body similar, but the rugae, even on the head, much feebler and the surface more shining. Pilosity shorter and less conspicuous. Color distinctly paler, deep red, the gaster dark red, the borders of its segments indistinctly reddish; legs yellowish red. Mandibles red, broadly bordered with black; anterior clypeal margin black.

Media Length 4-10 mm.

Larger specimens very similar to the soldier but lacking the ocellus. Head increasingly smooth, the smaller the specimen as in the other subspecies. Those measuring 5-6 mm. have the mandibles, except their borders, and the anterior third of the head reddish yellow and the posterior portion of the thorax paler than the pronotum.

Minima Length 2-2.3 mm.

Very similar to the worker of philippinus but slightly paler, being pale yellowish brown, with the upper surface of the headand the scapes slightly infuscated.

Male

Length 11-13 mm.

Differing from the male of philippinus in its greater size and in color. Head in shape intermediate between that of philippinus and the typical diversus, the occipital portion being short and broadly rounded. Wings proportionally longer than in philippinus, measuring nearly 14 mm.

Black; borders of gastric segments, articulations of thorax and ventral surfaces of petiole and postpetiole red or brown; antennae and legs paler, reddish brown, middle of scapes and femora dark brown; tarsi yellowish. Wings even darker than in philippinus.

Type Material

Described from a number of workers and five males taken by Dr. F. X. Williams at Los Banos, Luzon Island (type-locality) and a single male captured by Prof. C. F. Baker at Dapitan, on Mindanao Island.

References