Leptogenys gagates

Leptogenys gagates
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	quiriguana
Species:	L. gagates
Binomial name
	Leptogenys gagates; Mann, 1922 Specimen Label

This distinct species is only known from the type series: 3 point-mounted workers on a single pin, and a single worker on another pin.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - A member of the quiriguana species group. Head subquadrate in full-face view, mandibles elongate, not shutting tight against clypeus; median clypeal lobe slender and forming convex margin with lateral lobes; eye weakly convex; scape surpasses posterior cephalic margin by one-fourth its length; width of mesonotum more than twice its length in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Propodeal spiracle round.

Keys including this Species

Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 17.5155524° to 15.5123738°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Honduras (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 gagates 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.

gagates. Leptogenys (Leptogenys) gagates Mann, 1922: 11, fig. 5 (w.) HONDURAS. See also: Lattke, 2011: 203.

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

Description

Worker

Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 4) : HL 0.94 – 1.01; HW 0.71 – 0.78; ML 0.51 – 0.61; EL 0.15 – 0.18; SL 0.89 – 0.96; PW 0.51 – 0.63; WL 1.54 – 1.59; PH 0.56 – 0.63; PL 0.51 – 0.56; DPW 0.46–0.51 mm. CI 0.74–0.78; MI 0.71– 0.77; OI 0.19 – 0.24; SI 1.27 1.19 – 1.27; LPI 1.10 – 1.19; DPI 0.82 – 0.91.

Head subquadrate in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad; posterior margin relatively straight, cephalic margin posterad of eye mostly straight, curving posterad towards posterior margin; eye convex, length less than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin; anterior clypeal margin laterally concave, lateral lobe low and triangular, apex rounded; clypeus with low weak striae and sparse piligerous tubercles; PF 4,3. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by one-fourth its length, smooth and shining with sparse punctulae; funicular segments longer than wide, wider apicad than basad; antennal segments II – IV subequal in length. Mandible elongate and slender, leaving gap between basal margin and clypeus, subparallel internal and external margins, basal angle with minute denticle, basal margin broadly convex, external margin sinuate, basal margin with two stout hairs at mid-length; dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctae.

Mesosoma with broadly convex pronotal margin in lateral view; mesonotal margin briefly descends into metanotal groove, propodeal margin slightly convex to mostly straight before curving onto declivitous margin, declivitous margin straight with short triangular tooth at spiracular height. Width of mesonotum more than twice its length in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctulae; weak striae present about bulla; propodeal spiracle rounded, propodeal side posterad of spiracle indented. Mesopleural carina gradually expands anterad, forming low angular anterior lobe. Declivity with transverse crest between denticles, insertion of petiole surrounded by low sheath.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view with vertical anterior margin half height of posterior margin, dorsal margin broadly convex, posterior margin feebly convex, practically straight. Node trapezoidal, elongate in dorsal view; anterior margin convex, more than half width of posterior margin, posterior margin weakly convex. Node smooth and shining, posterior face flat, separated from lateral face by sharp curvature, ventral process triangular with long anterior slope and brief vertical posterior margin. Gaster, coxae smooth and shining; body with sparse standing and decumbent hairs, no appressed pilosity; constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well marked. Scape with abundant decumbent pilosity and sparse decumbent hairs. Body mostly black to very dark brown; antennae, clypeus, mandibles, legs and gastral apex ferruginous brown.

Type Material

Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Honduras, San Juan Pueblo, ii.–iii.1920, Cat. No. 24439 (W.M. Mann) (National Museum of Natural History) [examined].

References

Lattke, J.E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 69:127-264.
Mann, W. M. 1922. Ants from Honduras and Guatemala. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 61: 1-54 (page 11, fig. 5 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.