Colobostruma biconcava

Colobostruma biconcava
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Colobostruma
Species:	C. biconcava
Binomial name
	Colobostruma biconcava; Shattuck, 2000 Specimen labels

This is a rare species found in the ACT and South Australia. Nothing is known of its biology.

Identification

Shattuck (2000) - C. biconcava can be separated from other species in the alinodis-group by the presence of a 4-segmented antenna with a relatively short second funicular segment. It is most similar to Colobostruma biconvexa but differs in having the posterior faces of the petiole and postpetiole weakly concave, whereas these faces are convex in biconvexa. Additionally, biconcava is known from the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia while biconvexa is known only from Queensland.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Colobostruma Species

Distribution

Known from the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -35° to -37.23333333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Colobostruma biology

Beyond what is stated in the introduction at the top of this page, little is know about the biology of Colobostruma biconcava. Until further studies reveal more about this species we can infer that its natural history and biology should be similar to other species in this genus. In general Colobostruma can be locally common although they are often overlooked. Most species have small colonies with less than 100 workers, and workers will lie motionless when disturbed. Nests can occur in soil usually under rocks, in cracks in rocks or in rotten logs. Only a single rainforest species is known to nest arboreally. Foraging is usually on the ground at night but occasionally they are found foraging on mallee. They are also commonly found in leaf litter.

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

biconcava. Colobostruma biconcava Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 35 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, W face of Black Mt., ACT, Australia, 22.vii.1970, Taplin,I.C., ANIC32-003930, Australian National Insect Collection; dry sclerophyll, ANIC Berlesate No 292.
Paratype, 1 worker, W face of Black Mt., ACT, Australia, 22.vii.1970, Australian National Insect Collection; dry sclerophyll, ANIC Berlesate No 292.

Description

Worker

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 2.3, HL 0.55, HW 0.49, CI 89, ML 0.11, MI 20, SL 0.25, SI 51, PW 0.33, AL 0.60. Anterior region of head rounding gradually from the dorsal to lateral surfaces, not phragmotic. In full-face view ridge immediately in front of eye weakly concave. Frontal lobes and lateral margins of clypeus smooth and relative to the surrounding surface of the head. Mandibles broadly triangular. Hairs absent from the dorsum of head. Posterior margin of head uniformly concave. Antenna with 4 distinct segments, sometimes with the second funicular segment apparently partially subdivided distally (this partial segment always much shorter than the second segment); the second segment approximately one-third longer than the first segment. Scape elbowed and without a subbasal lobe. In dorsal view the widest point of the pronotum is at the humeral angles. Propodeum high, its posterior face greater in height than the petiolar node and with broad, thin lamellae; in profile the dorsum of the alitrunk gently and weakly arched. Lateral postpetiole drawn outwards into a thin flange-like wings, the wings with translucent windows along both their anterior and posterior margins, the windows separated by a narrow band of thickened integument and the anterior windows always smaller than the posterior windows. Posterior faces of petiole and postpetiole concave, the concavity of the postpetiole low, immediately above the gastral surface. First gastral tergite superimposed with weakly defined reticulate sculpturing, its anterior one-quarter with a series of low longitudinal carinae. Body colour honey yellow, dorsum of head slightly darker, antennae and legs slightly lighter, gaster with an incomplete, weakly infuscated medial band.

References

Shattuck, S. O. 2000. Genus Colobostruma. Genus Mesostruma. Genus Epopostruma. Pp. 31-67 in: Bolton, B. The ant tribe Dacetini. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 65: 1-1028 (page 35, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Andersen A. N., T. D. Penman, N. Debas, and M. Houadria. 2009. Ant community responses to experimental fire and logging in a Eucalypt forest of south-eastern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 258: 188-197.