Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa

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Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
Genus: Iridomyrmex
Species: I. xanthocoxa
Binomial name
Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa
Heterick & Shattuck, 2011

Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa side view

Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa top view

This species is confined to the Pilbara region of Western Australia, but can be quite abundant in pitfall samples from certain areas. Label data are sadly lacking in behavioural or ecological detail, but the biology of the ant may be expected to be similar to that of Iridomyrmex minor, to which it is very likely closely related.

Identification

Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa is very similar to red or reddish variants of Iridomyrmex minor, but the yellowish- orange fore coxa (the same colour as the mesosoma) is diagnostic of the species throughout its relatively restricted range. The antennal scape, hind tibia and sides of the head lack erect setae.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -20.41666985° to -25.958045°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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.

  • xanthocoxa. Iridomyrmex xanthocoxa Heterick & Shattuck, 2011: 158, fig. 85 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Types. Holotype worker from 13km ENE Millstream, Western Australia, 29 October 1970, J. Cardale, Australian National Insect Collection Ants Vial 9.92 (Australian National Insect Collection, ANIC32-039676). Paratypes: 8 workers, same data as holotype (Australian National Insect Collection, 5 workers; Museum of Comparative Zoology, 3 workers); 3 workers from 3.2km SSE Dampier, Western Australia, 18 October 1970, J. Feehan (The Natural History Museum, ANIC32- 039677).

Description

Worker Description. Head. Posterior margin of head weakly concave, or strongly concave; erect setae on posterior margin in full-face view set in a row; sides of head noticeably convex; erect genal setae absent from sides of head in full-face view (one to a few small setae may be present near mandibular insertion). Ocelli absent; in full- face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eye semi-circular, or asymmetrical, curvature of inner eye margin more pronounced than that of its outer margin. Frontal carinae convex; antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by approximately 3 x its diameter. Erect setae on scape absent, except at tip; prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin projecting as triangular spur; mandible regularly triangular with oblique basal margin; long, curved setae on venter of head capsule absent. Mesosoma. Pronotum moderately and evenly curved over its length. Erect pronotal setae sparse (6 or fewer) and bristly. Mesonotum evenly curved. Erect mesonotal setae sparse (6 or fewer) and bristly. Mesothoracic spiracles prominent or inconspicuous; propodeal dorsum smoothly and evenly convex; placement of propodeal spiracle mesad, more than its diameter away from propodeal declivity; propodeal angle weakly present or absent, the confluence of the dorsal and declivitous propodeal faces indicated, if at all, by an undulation. Erect propodeal setae moderate in number (6- 12), short and bristly. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex; node thin, scale-like, orientation more-or-less vertical. Gaster. Non-marginal erect setae of gaster present on first gastral tergite; marginal erect setae of gaster present on first tergite. General characters. Allometric differences between workers of same nest absent. Colour head, mesosoma and fore coxae orange or reddish-orange, legs and gaster brown, gaster with bluish iridescence.

Measurements. Worker (n = 4)—CI 64–70; EI 40–42; EL 0.25–0.28; EW 0.20–0.21; HFL 1.46–1.74; HL 0.90–1.03; HW 0.60–0.66; ML 1.25–1.39; MTL 1.06–1.22; PpH 0.13–0.15; PpL 0.47–0.53; SI 154–175; SL 1.00– 1.15.

Etymology

Greek: ‘xanthos’—‘ yellow’ plus ‘coxa’, referring to the orange-yellow coxae found in this species.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Heterick B. E., and S. Shattuck. 2011. Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2845: 1-174.