Leptogenys iheringi

Leptogenys iheringi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	crudelis
Species:	L. iheringi
Binomial name
	Leptogenys iheringi; Forel, 1911 Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Leptogenys iheringi.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - A member of the crudelis species group. Eye slightly convex, closer to cephalic capsule mid-length than to mandibles, diameter more than one-fourth length of lateral cephalic margin. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by more than twice its apical width. Petiole with highest point posterad in lateral view; anterior margin inclined and broadly curved, about half of height, then bends at obtuse angle and forms single curved anterodorsal margin more convex towards apex.

Forel (1911) claims that L. iheringi can be separated from Leptogenys crudelis by its unarmed propodeum, but the propodeum of all L. iheringi specimens examined have well-defined lobes, including the type specimens. This species can be confused with L. crudelis but the petiole in L. iheringi has a continuously curved anterodorsal margin in lateral view as compared with the vertical anterior margin and convex dorsal margin of the node in L. crudelis. Additional characters for separating these two species can be consulted in the comments for L. crudelis. The eyes are dorsolaterally situated on the head but with a lateral trend. A series of workers in the MZSP from Ipiranga in São Paulo key to L. iheringi and are quite similar in most aspects except for a more robust petiolar node and a weakly convex propodeal margin in lateral view.

Keys including this Species

Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.68015° to -23.530427°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Brazil (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 iheringi 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

Male unknown.

Nomenclature

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

iheringi. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) iheringi Forel, 1911c: 286 (w.q.) BRAZIL. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1212 (l.). See also: Lattke, 2011: 153.

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 = 2): HL 1.14-1.27; HW 0.71-0.76; ML 0.53-0.56; EL 0.20-0.28; SL 1.14-1.32; PW 0.63-0.71; WL 1.75-1.92; PH 0.61-0.73; PL 0.71-0.78; DPW 0.38-0.43 mm. CI 0.60-0.62; MI 0.73-0.75; OI 0.29-0.37; SI 1.61-1.73; LPI 0.86-0.94; DPI 0.54-0.55.

Head in full-face view elongate, sides sub-parallel, lateral margin broadly convex; slightly diverging anterad; posterior margin convex, slightly flattened medially; median clypeal lobe triangular relatively narrow with acute apex, uniformly tapering; cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae; eye slightly convex, closer to cephalic capsule mid-length than to mandible, laterally situated on head, diameter more than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin. Mandible shuts tight against clypeus; masticatory border edentate, sometimes with small denticle at basal angle; mandible mostly of uniform width, ending in apical tooth; dorsal surface smooth and shining. Scape smooth, with abundant inclined pilosity; surpassing posterior cephalic border by more than twice its apical width; frontal lobe covers only half condyle; third funicular segment at least twice as long as first; third segment about two-thirds as long as third; funicular segments cylindrical, separated by weak constriction.

Mesosoma with deep and broad metanotal groove in lateral view, separating convexities formed by promesonotum and propodeum. Curvature of propodeum stronger towards declivity, interrupted by blunt triangular tooth, tooth appears jagged because of transverse striae, mesosomal sides mostly smooth and shining; mesometapleural suture broad, well impressed, scrobiculate; surrounding metanotal spiracle. Dorsum of mesonotum smooth and shining, wider than long, anterior margin convex, posterior margin transverse; declivity with transverse strigulae. Mesonotum broader than long (L/W = 0.60), anterior margin convex, posterior margin straight in dorsal view. Anteroventral carina of mesopleuron mostly effaced to weakly developed, projecting slightly anterodorsad as blunt tooth. Mesopleuron with few rugulae ventrally and rugulae around bulla; propodeal spiracle elongate.

Petiole with highest point posterad in lateral view; anterior margin inclined and broadly convex to midheight, then bending at obtuse angle and forming single curved anterodorsal margin more convex towards apex; posterior margin broadly convex. Subpetiolar process brief, with anterior and posterior angles, posterior corner more ventrally projecting. Node, gaster smooth and shining; constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well marked. Node in dorsal view longer than wide; anterior face of node less than half the width of the posterior face; sides slightly concave; lateral faces more or less flat; procoxa in lateral view smooth and shining. Body color dark brown; legs, mandibles, and antenna slightly clearer.

Queen

Lattke (2011) - Metrics: HL 1.39; HW 0.85; ML 0.61; SL 1.24; ED 0.25 WL 1.98. CI 0.61; MI 0.72; SI 1.46; OI 0.29. Mesosoma with more convex propodeum in lateral view; propodeal tooth not projecting, appearing as continuation of declivity with posterior overhang. Mesopleuron with anepisternum differentiated, more convex than rest of sclerite; propodeal spiracle round. Node in dorsal view about as long as wide; triangular shaped with round anterior apex, posterior margin broadly convex. Node with length more or less equal to height in lateral view; anterior and posterior margins vertical, dorsal margin convex.

Type Material

Syntype workers: Brazil, São Paulo, Raiz da Serra, 25.xi.1907 (v. Ihering) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo) [examined].

Workers from the type series in Geneva are two on the same pin with a fully pigmented adult on top and a teneral below. A queen is mounted on a separate pin with the same data as the workers. There are 3 specimens in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo that also belong to the type series, with one bearing a cotypus label.

References

Camargo, K.S. de. 2011. Composicao e diversidade de "Poneromorfas" (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) em duas fitofisionomias de cerrado e padroes de distribuicao de "Poneromorfas", Pseudomyrmecinae e Cephalotini (Myrmicinae) para o Brasil. Thesis, Universidade de Brasilia.
Forel, A. 1911e. Ameisen des Herrn Prof. v. Ihering aus Brasilien (Sao Paulo usw.) nebst einigen anderen aus Südamerika und Afrika (Hym.). Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1911: 285-312 (page 286, worker, queen described)
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.
Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1971b. Ant larvae of the subfamily Ponerinae: second supplement. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 6 64: 1197-1217 (page 1212, larva described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Borgmeier T. 1923. Catalogo systematico e synonymico das formigas do Brasil. 1 parte. Subfam. Dorylinae, Cerapachyinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae. Archivos do Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) 24: 33-103.
Forel A. 1911. Ameisen des Herrn Prof. v. Ihering aus Brasilien (Sao Paulo usw.) nebst einigen anderen aus Südamerika und Afrika (Hym.). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1911: 285-312.
Kempf W. W., and K. Lenko. 1976. Levantamento da formicifauna no litoral norte e ilhas adjacentes do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. I. Subfamilias Dorylinae, Ponerinae e Pseudomyrmecinae (Hym., Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 19: 45-66.
Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
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
Luederwaldt H. 1918. Notas myrmecologicas. Rev. Mus. Paul. 10: 29-64.