Leptogenys chamela

Leptogenys chamela
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	elongata
Species:	L. chamela
Binomial name
	Leptogenys chamela; Lattke, 2011 Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Leptogenys chamela.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Head noticeably wider anterad than posterad; compound eye diameter covers approximately one-third of lateral cephalic margin; scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by close to one-half its length. Mandible arched, elongate and slender, basal and external margins parallel, dorsum smooth and shining. Hypostomal tooth triangular, apex just visible in full-face view of head. Node longer than wide in dorsal view. Body color mostly black, with antennae, mandibles, legs, and gastral apex dark brown.

A member of the elongata species group, this is a large species approaching Leptogenys ingens in length and body mass.

Keys including this Species

Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 20.2467139° to 17.9933333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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 Leptogenys biology

The biology of Leptogenys chamela is poorly known.

The Leptogenys genus page has more details about the general biology of ants in this genus, some of which is summarized in what follows. New World species have relatively small ranges, generally occur in humid forests and prey on isopods. Colonies may occur in high densities on a local scale, with up to 5 or 6 species present. Nest size tends to be small with just 20 or 30 individuals in a mature colony. Nests of most species may be found in rotten wood on the ground, usually within cavities in logs or large branches, and also beneath bark. Wood-soil and rock-soil interfaces are another common nesting location, as well as rock crevices, and a few species may nest directly in the soil. Reproduction is most commonly via ergatoid females and, in many species, may include egg-laying workers. ‎

Castes

Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

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

chamela. Leptogenys chamela Lattke, 2011: 156, fig. 14 (w.) MEXICO.

Description

Worker

Metrics, holotype (paratype): HL 2.35 (2.35); HW 2.20 (2.10); ML 1.85 (1.70); EL 0.40 (0.45); SL 2.90 (2.80); PW 1.60 (1.50); WL 4.10 (4.00); PH 1.55 (1.55); PL 1.40 (1.45); DPW 1.05 (1.00) mm. CI 0.94 (0.89); MI 0.84 (0.81); OI 0.18 (0.21); SI 1.32 (1.33); LPI 1.11 (1.07); DPI 0.75 (0.69).

Head approximately as wide as long in full-face view, noticeably wider anterad than posterad, posterior margin convex, lateral margin broadly convex; vertexal carinae distinctly visible along most of posterior margin. Median clypeal lobe bluntly-pointed, opaque; lateral lobe narrow, weakly sinuate. Compound eye prominent, convex, diameter covers approximately one-third of lateral cephalic margin, situated close to cephalic midlength; ocular perimeter abruptly separated from circumocular sulcus. Cephalic dorsum posteriorly densely punctate, punctae forming imbricate pattern, head between eye and antenna striate to rugulose; head posterad of eye obliquely striate, ventral cephalic surface striate punctate with smoothened anterior area; clypeus with oblique striae. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by close to one-half its length; punctulate, with decumbent pubescence and scattered decumbent hairs. Funicular segments elongate, subcylindrical, slightly wider apicad than basad; third antennal segment 4 x longer than maximum width; second antennal segment half the length of third; fourth antenna segment slightly more than half the length of third segment. Mandibles arched, elongate and slender, basal and external margins parallel, dorsum smooth and shining. Hypostomal tooth triangular, apex just visible in full-face view of head.

Mesosoma with deep metanotal groove in lateral view, dividing broadly convex promesonotal margin and broadly convex propodeal margin. Pronotum laterally with longitudinal to oblique strigae, small mostly smooth strip present just dorsad of procoxae, dorsum medially mostly punctate with scattered transverse striae, anterior margin transversely striate; prosternum transversely striate. Mesonotum broader than long in dorsal view, transversely striate-punctate. Mesopleuron transversely strigate, anteroventrally without low blunt lobe, anteroventral carinae lacking; mesosternum with transverse striae; metapleuron-lateral propodeum mostly with transverse striae; metapleural-propodeal suture weakly developed. Bulla of metathoracic spiracle convex, prominent, finely sculptured; anteroventral metapleural corner with triangular lobe. Dorsum and declivity of propodeum transversely strigate; propodeal spiracle elongate, almost slit-shaped.

Petiole subrectangular in lateral view with anterior margin shorter than posterior margin, dorsal margin longer than posterior or anterior margins, anterior margin strongly convex, dorsal margin broadly convex, highest point close to mid-length of node, posterior face slightly inclined anterad, broadly convex. Node laterally longitudinally strigate to striate, tending to smooth ventrad, posterior face transversely strigate. Petiolar sternum with posterior weak convexity in lateral view, anterior process shaped as curved lobe. Node longer than broad in dorsal view, sides subparallel, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Anterior margin of abdominal segment III inclined posterad in lateral view, anterodorsal margin convex. Gaster mostly smooth and shining with scattered fine punctulae, punctulae diminishing in density posterad. Pygidial margin broadly convex in lateral view, with blunt median crest. Procoxa transversely striate in lateral view. Body with abundant appressed pilosity that interferes with observing underlying sculpture, and erect to semi-erect hairs. Body color mostly black, with antennae, mandibles, legs, and gastral apex dark brown. Meso and metatibia external apex each with single seta.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Mexico, Jalisco, Estación Biológica Chamela, 19°30'N 105°02'W, 60 m, 5.vi.1994, D. Olson. One worker deposited in MCZC. – Paratype. Mexico, Jalisco, Estación Biológica UNAM “Chamela”, 7.vi.1984, D. Feener 0677. One worker deposited in BMNH.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the name of the “Chamela” biological station of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Castano-Meneses, G., M. Vasquez-Bolanos, J. L. Navarrete-Heredia, G. A. Quiroz-Rocha, and I. Alcala-Martinez. 2015. Avances de Formicidae de Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
Lattke J. E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 69: 127-264