Polyrhachis constructor
Polyrhachis constructor | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Formicinae |
Tribe: | Camponotini |
Genus: | Polyrhachis |
Subgenus: | Myrmatopa |
Species group: | flavicornis |
Species: | P. constructor |
Binomial name | |
Polyrhachis constructor Smith, F., 1857 | |
Synonyms | |
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In Thailand, carton nests of P. constructor were found on the underside of plant leaves or between leaves. They were located c.a. 1.59–2.80 m above ground on shrubs. The nest was around 1.74–10.53 cm long, 1.51–5.66 cm wide, and 0.22–0.95 cm deep, with only one nest entrance (Jaitrong et al., 2023).
Photo Gallery
Identification
Polyrhachis constructor is most similar to Polyrhachis longipilosa in having hairs on dorsa of head, mesosoma and gaster and on antennal scape. However, P. constructor has the shorter hairs and weaker sculpturing than in the latter (see figures 1 A–C and 6 for comparison) (Jaitrong et al., 2023).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Polyrhachis constructor is distinctly allopatric with Polyrhachis longipilosa in distribution, occurring in Sundaland (southern Thailand and Borneo) and southernmost part of Indochina subregions (Prachuap Khirikhan Province). On the other hand, P. longipilosa is recorded from western part of Thailand (Kanchanaburi Province) (Jaitrong et al., 2023).
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 13.1° to -2.183333°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Jaitrong et al., 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia (type locality), Malaysia, Singapore (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
Castes
Images from AntWeb
Holotype of Polyrhachis constructor. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0901846. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by OUM, Oxford, UK. |
Holotype of Polyrhachis piliventris. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0903307. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
Syntype of Polyrhachis elii. Worker. Specimen code casent0905566. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- constructor. Polyrhachis constructor Smith, F. 1857a: 60 (q.) BORNEO. Combination in P. (Myrmatopa): Donisthorpe, 1932c: 445. Unplaced to subgenus: Dorow, 1995: 65, but Donisthorpe probably correct. [P. constructrix: Schulz, 1906: 156; unjustified emendation.]
- elii. Polyrhachis elii Emery, 1900d: 711 (w.) INDONESIA (Mentawei I.).
- Combination in P. (Myrmatopa): Emery, 1925b: 180.
- Junior synonym of constructor: Jaitrong et al., 2023: 448.
- piliventris. Polyrhachis piliventris Smith, F. 1858b: 60, pl. 4, fig. 24 (q.) SINGAPORE.
- Combination in P. (Myrmatopa): Dorow, 1995: 44; Bolton, 1995b: 354.
- Junior synonym of constructor: Jaitrong et al., 2023: 448.
Type Material
Type material examined by Jaitrong et al. (2023):
- The syntype alate queen of Polyrhachis constructor from East Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak (A.R. Wallace), deposited in OXUM.
- Two syntype workers of Polyrhachis elii from Indonesia, Mentawai Island, Sipora, Sereinu, V–VI.1894 (E. Modigliani), deposited in MCSN.
- The syntype alate queen of Polyrhachis piliventris from Singapore (A.R. Wallace), deposited in BMNH.
The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):
Holotype alate queen in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “SAR.” (= Sarawak) and with a Donisthorpe type-label.
Taxonomic Notes
The syntype alate queen of P. constructor is quite similar to the syntype alate queen of P. piliventris. Only minor differential characteristics or just variation have been seen: 1) head is slightly longer (CI 73 in P. constructor; CI 85 in P. piliventris); 2) posterior margin of head stronger convex than in P. piliventris; 3) anterior margin of mesoscutum weaker convex than in P. piliventris. The syntype workers of P. elii are most similar to workers of P. constructor in most aspects but the body size is slightly larger and slightly denser hairs. However, we did not find any major characteristics to distinguish P. constructor (Figs. 1 A–C, 2 A–C) from the syntypes of P. piliventris (Fig. 2 D–F) and P. elii (Fig. 3 A–C). Thus, we here synonymize P. piliventris and P. elii with P. constructor.
Description
References
- Donisthorpe, H. 1932c. On the identity of Smith's types of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) collected by Alfred Russell Wallace in the Malay Archipelago, with descriptions of two new species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 10(10): 441-476 (page 445, Combination in P. (Myrmatopa))
- Dorow, W. H. O. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) on subgenus level with keys, checklist of species and bibliography. Cour. Forschungsinst. Senckenb. 185: 1-113 (page 65, Unplaced to subgenus)
- Jaitrong, W., Yamane, S., Noon-Anant, N. 2023. The Thai species of the Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) flavicornis Smith, 1857 species group, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae). Zootaxa 5249(4), 446–464 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5249.4.3).
- Smith, F. 1857a. Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by A. R. Wallace. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 2: 42-88 (page 60, queen described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
- Emery, C. "Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 20, no. 40 (1900): 661-722.
- Kohout R.J., and M. Mohamed. 2008. A preliminary list of the Polyrhachis ants of the Maliau Basin Conservation area in Sabah, Borneo (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Asian Myrmecology 2: 63-70.
- Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
- Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014