Plectroctena thaui

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Plectroctena thaui
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Plectroctena
Species: P. thaui
Binomial name
Plectroctena thaui
Fisher, 2006

Plectroctena thaui casent0003074 profile 1.jpg

Plectroctena thaui casent0003074 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

The only known specimens are the workers that make up the type series. These were collected in litter samples from montane rainforest at 1400m.

Identification

Fisher (2006) - This species is easily placed within the P. mandibularis species group as defined by Bolton and Brown (2002), but slightly extends the CI for the group to 86 - 97. Within this group, Plectroctena thaui is most similar to Plectroctena ugandensis but P. thaui is notably larger, with the HW 2.33 - 2.54 (P. ugandensis HW < 1.75), and black in color (dark red in P. ugandensis).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.107777778° to 4.107777778°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Cameroun (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

Only known from the worker caste.

Images from AntWeb

Plectroctena thaui casent0003074 head 2.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0003074. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • thaui. Plectroctena thaui Fisher, 2006: 116, figs. 9 – 12 (w.) CAMEROUN.

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

Description

Worker

With the following characters of the P. mandibularis species group (Bolton and Brown 2002). Propodeal lamella restricted to side of propodeal declivity. Mandible with basal tooth, distal tooth slightly raised and at an angle. Dorsum of A3 tergite without anteriorly situated transverse groove or impression. Petiole node in profile slightly higher than long. Head relatively broad (CI 95 - 97).

In addition, with the following specific characters: Maximum diameter of eye 0.13 mm. Basal tooth of mandible with a defined vertical anterior surface, and without a defined posterior surface; apex of tooth extends to mandible base as oblique high ridge. Dorsum of head finely sculptured, with small punctures of diameters smaller than the distances between each puncture. Ventral surface of head without striation between punctures, a few longitudinal rugae present posteriorly. Dorsal surfaces of head and mesosoma without erect hairs. Foveolate punctures on dorsum of head with short, mostly erect hairs arising from their centers. Mesonotum and propodeum without polished, unsculptured, median, longitudinal strip. Propodeal lamina narrow, confined to both sides of the declivity, not extending across dorsum, without stout tooth near base.

Measurements. Holotype: TL 9.9, HL 2.45, HW 2.33, CI 95, SL 1.68, SI 72, ML 3.14. Paratypes (three measured): TL 9.9 - 11.0, HL 2.37 - 2.54, HW 2.30 - 2.41, CI 95 - 97, SL 1.56 - 7.76, SI 68 - 73, ML 3.13 - 3.20.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Cameroon: Sud-Ouest, Mount Cameroon, Etinde Forest Reserve, 3.8 km 330° NNW Mapanja (04° 06' 28" N, 009° 09' 07" E), 1440 m, 16.IV.2000, leg. B.L. Fisher, montane rainforest, sifted litter, B.L. Fisher collection code: BLF02326, specimen code: CASENT000 3074, 1 worker (California Academy of Sciences).

Paratype workers. Four workers with same data as holotype but with specimen codes: CASENT0003075 (Museum of Comparative Zoology), CASENT0003076 (The Natural History Museum), CASENT0003077 (CASC), CASENT0003078 (CASC).

References

  • Fisher, B. L. 2006. Boloponera vicans gen.n. and sp.n. and two new species of the Plectroctena genus group Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecol. Nachr. 8:111-118.