Polyrhachis latona

Polyrhachis latona
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Polyrhachis
Subgenus:	Myrma
Species group:	aculeata
Species complex:	pubescens
Species:	P. latona
Binomial name
Polyrhachis latona Wheeler, W.M., 1909 Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Polyrhachis latona dorsorugosa Forel, 1913

Common Name
Taiwan-toge-ari
Language:	Japanese

This soil-nesting species is common in the Sakishima group of the Nansei Islands, Japan (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification

A member of the Polyrhachis aculeata species group in the subgenus Myrma

Kohout (2013): When describing P. latona, Wheeler (1909) noted that his new species ‘is closely related to Polyrhachis relucens Latr., Polyrhachis mayri Roger [= P. illaudata Walker] and Polyrhachis proxima Roger’. He listed the smaller size, more approximate frontal carinae, different pilosity, shallower promesonotal and ‘mesoëpinotal’ notches in the lateral margins, differences in the shape and length of the pronotal and petiolar spines and several other characters as the main differences distinguishing his new species. Besides the characters indicated by Wheeler, P. latona also differs from the above species by having rather flat, mildly posteriorly protracted eyes.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Polyrhachis aculeata group species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 24.285° to 24.285°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (type locality), Thailand, Vietnam.
Palaearctic Region: China, Japan.

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

Association with Other Organisms

 Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Fungi

This species is a host for the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (a pathogen) in Taiwan (Lin et al., 2020).

Nomenclature

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

• latona. Polyrhachis latona Wheeler, W.M. 1909d: 337 (w.) TAIWAN. Forel, 1912a: 79 (m.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 201. Senior synonym of dorsorugosa: Wu & Wang, 1995: 167.
• dorsorugosa. Polyrhachis latona var. dorsorugosa Forel, 1913f: 202 (w.m.) TAIWAN. Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 201. Raised to species: Wang & Wu, 1991: 599. Junior synonym of latona: Wu & Wang, 1995: 167.

Type Material

• Syntype, workers, Takao, Taiwan, H. Sauter, Type 21662, American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Comparative Zoology; (see Kohout, 2013).

Description

Worker

Kohout (2013): Dimensions (syntypes cited first): TL c. 6.25-7.16, 6.30-7.26; HL 1.62-1.72, 1.65-1.84; HW 1.22-1.31, 1.26-1.34; CI 75-76, 73-78; SL 1.96-2.06, 2.03-2.21; SI 157-161, 156-166; PW 1.18-1.34, 1.25-1.40; MTL 1.93-2.09, 2.00-2.25 (2+10 measured).

Queen

Kohout (2013): (not previously described). Dimensions: TL c. 8.62; HL 1.90; HW 1.42; CI 75; SL 2.25; SI 158; PW 1.78; MTL 2.31 (1 measured).

Queen larger than worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal spines very short, about as long as basal width. Mesoscutum only marginally wider than long; lateral margins converging anteriorly into rather narrowly rounded anterior margin; median line distinct; parapsides virtually flat; mesoscutum in profile with anterior face widely rounding onto convex dorsum. Mesoscutellum weakly convex, not distinctly elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeum with lateral margins in profile somewhat angular at midlength, terminating in short ridges that are continued medially forming distinct, dorsally bowed carina dividing propodeal dorsum from declivity. Petiole with dorsolateral and lateral spines subequal in length; dorsal margin with distinct intercalary tooth. Sculpturation, pilosity, pubescence and colour very similar to worker.

References

• Brassard, F., Leong, C.-M., Chan, H.-H., Guénard, B. 2021. High diversity in urban areas: How comprehensive sampling reveals high ant species richness within one of the most urbanized regions of the world. Diversity 13, 358 (doi:10.3390/d13080358).
• Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 201, Combination in P. (Myrma))
• Forel, A. 1912b. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute. Formicidae (Hym.) (Schluss). Entomol. Mitt. 1: 67-81 (page 79, male described)
• Imai, H.T., Kihara, A., Kondoh, M., Kubota, M., Kuribayashi, S., Ogata, K., Onoyama, K., Taylor, R.W., Terayama, M., Yoshimura, M., Ugawa, Y. 2003. Ants of Japan. 224 pp, Gakken, Japan.
• Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).
• Kohout, R. J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhacis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with keys and descriptions of new species. Australian Entomologist. 40:137-171.
• Lin, W.-J., Lee, Y.-I., Liu, S.-L., Lin, C.-C., Chung, T.-Y., Chou, J.-Y. 2020. Evaluating the tradeoffs of a generalist parasitoid fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, on different sympatric ant hosts. Scientific Reports 10:6428 (doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63400-1).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1909d. Ants of Formosa and the Philippines. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 26: 333-345 (page 337, worker described)
• Wong, T.L., Guénard, B. 2020. Review of ants from the genus Polyrhachis Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) in Hong Kong and Macau, with notes on their natural history. Asian Myrmecology 13: e013001 (doi:10.20362/am.013001).
• Wu, J., Wang, C. 1995. The ants of China. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, x + 214 pp.
• Yano, M. 1911a. The genus Polyrhachis of Japan. [In Japanese.] Dobutsugaku Zasshi (Zool. Mag.) 23:249-256.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Abe T. 1974. Notes on the fauna of ants in Iriomote Island. Ecol. Stud. Nat. Cons. Ryukyu Isl. 1:105-111.
• Azuma, S. and M. Kinjo. 1987. Family Formicidae, In Checklist of the insects of Okinawa. The Biological Society of Okinawa, Nishihara. Pages 310-312.
• 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
• Cheng D., Z. Chen, and S. Zhou. 2015. An analysis on the ant fauna of Jinzhongshan Nature Reserve in Gunagxi, China. Journal of Guangxi Normal University: Natural Science Edition 33(3): 129.137.
• Forel A. 1912. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute. Formicidae (Hym.) (Schluss). Entomol. Mitt. 1: 45-61.
• Forel A. 1913. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute: Formicidae II. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(6): 183-202
• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Hua Li-zhong. 2006. List of Chinese insects Vol. IV. Pages 262-273. Sun Yat-sen university Press, Guangzhou. 539 pages.
• Jaitrong W.; Nabhitabhata, J. 2005. A list of known ant species of Thailand. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(1): 9-54.
• Kohout R. J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhachis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae), with keys and descriptions of new species. Australian Entomologist 40(3): 137-171.
• Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
• Onoyama K. 1976. A premilinary study on the ant fauna of Okinawa-ken, with taxonomic notes (Japan; Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ecol. Stud. Nat. Cons. Ryukyu Isl. II: 121-141.
• Ran H., and S. Y. Zhou. 2013. Checklist of Chinese Ants: Formicomorph Subfamilies ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (III). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 31(1): 104-111.
• Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014
• Shuang Zhao. 2006. Ant of Guangdong Province (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A taxonomic study of the ants of Guangdong (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Master's thesis in Agriculture Insects and Pest Control. Supervisor Fenglong Jia. 115 pages.
• Takamine H. 1994. Geographical destributions of three species of Polyrhachis on the Nansei Islands, Japan. Ari 17: 9.
• Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
• Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in east Asia. 1. Regional differences and species richness. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 47(1): 1-31.
• Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
• Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
• Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Wheeler W. M. 1909. Ants of Formosa and the Philippines. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 26: 333-345.
• Wheeler W. M. 1929. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Formosa, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 24: 27-64.
• Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
• Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.
• Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.