Leptogenys phylloba

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

Leptogenys phylloba P.jpg

Leptogenys phylloba D.jpg

Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Leptogenys phylloba.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - A member of the famelica species group. Head elongate in full-face view; median clypeal process triangular, mostly laminate; eye greatly convex; mandible subtriangular, masticatory margin concave, mostly crenulate, occasionally with denticle or two; body mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctae; propodeal spiracle not elevated, oval, oriented laterally; petiole elongate, subtriangular in lateral view.

This is the second largest species in the group, and it could overlap in size with small specimens of Leptogenys famelica, but L. phylloba does not have the slender, triangular node of L. famelica, which is cuneiform in dorsal view. This species is sympatric with Leptogenys pinna but differs from it on account of its larger size, clypeal sculpture, and orientation of the propodeal spiracle opening, which is slightly posterior in L. pinna.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

The range of Leptogenys phylloba extends from southeastern Colombia to eastern Ecuador.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 0.213333333° to -1.586388889°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality), Ecuador.

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

Explore-icon.png Explore Overview of Leptogenys biology 
The biology of Leptogenys phylloba 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.

  • phylloba. Leptogenys phylloba Lattke, 2011: 169, fig. 25 (w.) COLOMBIA.

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

Description

Worker

Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 2): HL 1.69 (1.69-1.69); HW 1.08 (1.15-1.15); ML 0.94 (0.91-0.98); EL 0.40 (0.37-0.40); SL 2.36 (2.36-2.39); PW 1.01 (1.04-1.08); WL 3.24 (3.10-3.24); PH 1.18 (1.15-1.15); PL 1.18 (1.18-1.25); DPW 0.81 (0.78-0.84) mm. CI 0.64 (0.68-0.68); MI 0.88 (0.79-0.85); OI 0.38 (0.32-0.35); SI 2.19 (2.06-2.09); LPI 1.00 (0.92-0.97); DPI 0.69 (0.66-0.68).

Head elongate in full-face view, wider anterad than posterad; lateral cephalic margin weakly convex; posterior cephalic margin convex; median clypeal process triangular, mostly laminate, apex pointed; lateral clypeal process narrow, joining smoothly with base of median process. Eye greatly convex, occupies approximately one-third of lateral cephalic margin, situated dorsolaterally and anterad of mid-length of lateral cephalic margin. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with abundant punctulae, and scattered piligerous punctae; clypeus mostly smooth with oblique to longitudinal striae laterad, narrow smooth strip present along anterolateral margin posterad of mandibular insertion extending mesad, disappearing behind median clypeal lobe; longitudinal sulcus extends posterad from between frontal carina to one-half eye height; clypeus and frontal carina protrude dorsally in lateral cephalic view, clypeal margin divided by blunt angle into anterior third part and long, sloping posterior two-thirds part that peaks at antennal insertion; head ventral surface smooth and shining with scattered punctae. Scape densely punctulae with abundant pilosity and scattered subdecumbent to suberect hairs, scape extends beyond posterior cephalic margin by almost half its length; third antennal segment over 4 x longer than apical width, second antennal segment half length of third segment; fourth antennal segment over half length of third segment, funicular segments subcylindrical. Mandible elongate, triangular, masticatory margin concave, mostly crenulate, occasionally with denticle or two, length of masticatory margin almost same as basal margin; dorsal mandibular surface smooth with scattered punctae.

Mesosoma with deep metanotal groove separating convex promesonotal margin in lateral view from broadly convex dorsal propodeal margin; mesosomal sculpture mostly smooth and shining with scattered piligerous punctae. Mesometapleural suture scrobiculate well impressed along mesopleuron; metapleural-propodeal suture lacking; propodeal spiracle not elevated, oval, oriented laterally; bulla of metathoracic spiracle convex; mesopleuron smooth with weak fine transverse striae in some areas, some striae present posteroventrad, anteroventral carina well developed, forming angular lobe anterad; mesosternum with transverse striae anterad; metapleuron with transverse striae posteroventrad; declivitous propodeal face with transverse striae posterad; propodeum rounded, without lateral lobe or tooth; mesonotum broader than long in dorsal view, anterior margin convex; metanotal groove straight, scrobiculate.

Petiole elongate, subtriangular in lateral view, anterior margin brief and convex; anterodorsal margin convex, longer than posterior margin; node highest posterad; posterior margin inclined anterad mostly straight to weakly convex. Subpetiolar process angular anterad, lobe-like posterad in lateral view. Node longer than wide in dorsal view, anterior margin convex; lateral margin broadly convex, posterior margin straight. Node smooth and shining, posterior face not sharply separated from lateral face. Anterodorsal postpetiolar margin convex in lateral view; gaster with scattered punctulae, constriction between abdominal segments III and IV weak; procoxae smooth and shining in lateral view. Mesosoma with no pilosity, only scattered standing to suberect hairs; decumbent to appressed pilosity present on cephalic dorsum, anterior coxal faces, meso- and metafemora, tibiae, and tarsi. Head, mesosoma, node and most of gaster black; antenna, mandibles, clypeus, legs, and apex of gaster brown. Apex of pro- and metatibia without setae; mesotibial apex with single external seta.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Colombia, Caquetá, Puerto Solano, P.N.N. La Serranía de Chiribiquete, Río Cuñaré – [Río] Amu, 0°12′48′′N 72°25′25′′W, 250 m, 1. – 3.iii.2001, M. Ospina, E. González, deposited in Humboldt Institute (No.35089). – Paratypes. (1) Colombia, Caquetá, Puerto Solano, P.N.N. La Serranía de Chiribiquete, Río Cuñaré – [Río] Amu, 0°12′35′′N 72°24′55′′W, 250 m, 15. – 17.ii.2001, M. Ospina, E. González, 1w deposited in IAVH (No. 35078). (2) Colombia, Amazonas, Río Ayo, 1°35′11′′S 69° 31′39′′W, vi.2002, F. Quevedo, 1w deposited in IAVH.

Etymology

The species name alludes to the lamellate, leaf-like median clypeal lobe. It is derived from the Greek for leaf, phyllon.

References