Solenopsis sulfurea

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Solenopsis sulfurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Solenopsis
Species complex: molesta
Species: S. sulfurea
Binomial name
Solenopsis sulfurea
(Roger, 1862)

Solenopsis albidula casent0178130 profile 1.jpg

Solenopsis albidula casent0178130 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms

Solenopsis sulfurea was collected in a humid subtropical tall forest in leaf litter in Paraguay.

Identification

A New World thief ant that is a member of the molesta species complex. (Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes)

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - The worker can be concolorous yellow to pale yellow or bicolored with a yellow body and brown gaster. The lateral clypeal teeth are present and well developed, while the extralateral teeth are absent, but small angles are present in their position interrupting the outline of the clypeal margin. The scape is relatively long at 0.300 mm. The petiole has a small node that is triangular in shape with a minute tooth ventrally on peduncle. Queen - The queen is golden brown in color and slender in overall appearance. The head is elongate with all four well-developed clypeal teeth, while the clypeal carinae are weakly defined. The petiole and postpetiole are covered in roughened/punctate sculpturing. The petiolar peduncle has a well-developed tooth ventrally that is translucent apically. Male - The male is medium brown in color. The head is smooth and shiny with the anterior clypeal margin slightly convex, lacking teeth or bumps. The petiole and postpetiole are covered with striae. The postpetiolar node is nearly twice as high as the petiolar node.

The workers of S. sulfurea are similar to Solenopsis subtilis (Venezuela south Paraguay) and the Galapagos species, Solenopsis gnoma. Solenopsis sulfurea can be distinguished from S. subtilis as it has an elongated clypeus, while the clypeus of S. subtilis is compact. If a queen is collected, the petiole and postpetiole of S. subtilis are horizontally striated; roughened with S. sulfurea. Solenopsis gnoma also has an elongated clypeus, but has well defined clypeal carinae; weakly defined with S. sulfurea. Moreover, if a queen is collected, the head is not conspicuously elongate and the clypeal margin only has two well defined teeth with S. gnoma.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -22.809943° to -34.583333°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina (type locality), Brazil (type locality), French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela.

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

Nomenclature

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

  • sulfurea. Diplorhoptrum sulfureum Roger, 1862c: 296 (w.) South America (no state data).
    • Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
    • [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
    • Type-locality: South America: (no further data).
    • Type-depository: unknown (perhaps DEIB or MNHU).
    • [Misspelled as sulphuria by Mayr, 1870b: 996, Forel, 1895b: 130.]
    • Combination in Solenopsis: Roger, 1863b: 32; Mayr, 1863: 407.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1862c: 296; Roger, 1863b: 32; Mayr, 1863: 454; Mayr, 1870b: 996 (in key); Cresson, 1887: 262; Dalla Torre, 1893: 77; Forel, 1895b: 130; Emery, 1896g: 82 (in key); Emery, 1906c: 136; Emery, 1922e: 201; Kempf, 1961b: 508; Ettershank, 1966: 143; Kempf, 1972a: 240; Bolton, 1995b: 391; Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316 (redescription).
    • Senior synonym of albidula: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.
    • Senior synonym of flava: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.
    • Senior synonym of postbrunnea: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.
    • Distribution: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.
  • albidula. Solenopsis albidula Emery, 1906c: 129, fig. 12 (w.q.m.) ARGENTINA (Buenos Aires).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 319), 2 paralectotype workers, 3 paralectotype queens, 3 paralectotype males.
    • Type-locality: lectotype Argentina: Buenos Aires, Nuñez, 11.xi.1898 (F. Silvestri); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • Status as species: Bruch, 1914: 222; Emery, 1922e: 198; Santschi, 1923c: 254; Santschi, 1929d: 297; Ettershank, 1966: 139; Kempf, 1972a: 232; Bolton, 1995b: 386; Wild, 2007b: 36.
    • Junior synonym of sulfurea: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.
  • flava. Solenopsis albidula var. flava Santschi, 1929d: 298 (w.q.) ARGENTINA (Buenos Aires).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 319), 6 paralectotype workers, 1 paralectotype queen.
    • Type-locality: lectotype Argentina: La Plata (C. Bruch); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • Subspecies of albidula: Ettershank, 1966: 140; Kempf, 1972a: 232; Bolton, 1995b: 387.
    • Junior synonym of sulfurea: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.
  • postbrunnea. Solenopsis albidula var. postbrunnea Forel, 1913l: 220 (w.) BRAZIL (São Paulo).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 319), 2 paralectotype workers.
    • Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: São Paulo, no. 15952 (von Ihering); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Subspecies of albidula: Luederwaldt, 1918: 42; Emery, 1922e: 198; Borgmeier, 1927c: 102; Ettershank, 1966: 143; Kempf, 1972a: 232; Bolton, 1995b: 390.
    • Junior synonym of sulfurea: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 316.

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

Description

Worker

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=10). TL 1.22-1.46 (1.34); HL 0.372-0.468 (0.416); HW 0.288-0.408 (0.335); EL 0.030-0.054 (0.038); ED 0.030-0.036 (0.031); SL 0.246-0.300 (0.280); FSL 0.090-0.120 (0.108); CI 73.8-87.2 (80.6); SI 57.7-72.5 (67.4); PL 0.084-0.090 (0.088); PW 0.084-0.120 (0.095); PI 75.0-100 (93.8); PPL 0.090-0.096 (0.092); PPW 0.096-0.126 (0.109); PPI 71.4-100.0 (84.2); WL 0.300; PSL 0.018; PSW 0.024.

Small; concolorous yellow to bicolored with brown gaster; head much longer than wide, finely punctate; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, extralateral teeth slightly angulate; clypeal carinae poorly defined; eyes small, three ommatidia; scape long, reaching ¾ distance to posterior-lateral border of head; pronotum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; posterior propodeal margin rounded (viewed laterally); propodeal spiracle small, round; metapleuron horizontally striated; petiole wider than postpetiole (viewed laterally); petiolar node small, triangular, peduncle with minute tooth ventrally; postpetiolar node rounded, semicircular, lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Moderately hairy, pilosity yellow; erect and suberect hairs scattered on body surfaces; hairs on mesosoma 0.060 mm in total length; hairs on petiole and postpetiole curve posteriorly.

Queen

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=3). TL 4.08-4.20 (4.14); HL 0.630; HW 0.480-0.492 (0.484); EL 0.180-0.198 (0.188); ED 0.150-0.162 (0.159); MOL 0.042-0.048 (0.044); MOD 0.048-0.054 (0.050); SL 0.378-0.390 (0.386); FSL 0.210-0.216 (0.212); CI 76.2-78.1 (76.8); SI 60.0-61.9 (61.3); PSL 0.036-0.042 (0.041); PSW 0.036-0.042 (0.038); PL 0.150-0.156 (0.152); PW 0.210; PI 71.4-74.3 (72.4); PPL 0.240; PPW 0.258; PPI 93.0; WL 0.720-0.750 (0.728).

Moderately large; concolorous golden brown; head elongate, much longer than wide, surface finely punctate; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, space between tips of teeth wide (0.090 mm), extralateral teeth well developed; clypeal carinae weakly defined; scape yellow, long, not reaching posterior border of head; medial ocellus small; eyes large; mesosoma slender; pronotum and dorsopropodeum in same plane, with dorsal margin straight line viewed laterally; pronotum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; posterior propodeal margin rounded (viewed laterally); metapleuron with scattered striae above and below spiracle; petiole wider than postpetiole (viewed laterally); petiolar node robust, round, triangular, peduncle with well-developed tooth ventrally, translucent apically; sides of petiole and postpetiole with striated sculpturing.

Moderately dense, pilosity yellow; erect and suberect hairs scattered on body surfaces; hairs on petiole and postpetiole long (0.012-0.015 mm), curve posteriorly.

Male

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=4). TL 3.00-3.36 (3.12); HL 0.420; HW 0.432-0.438 (0.434); EL 0.180-0.198 (0.188); ED 0.162-0.174 (0.167); MOL 0.054-0.060 (0.057); MOD 0.060; SL 0.180; FSL 0.600-0.660 (0.615); CI 102-104 (103); SI 42.9; PSL 0.042-0.048 (0.045); PSW 0.036-0.042 (0.039); PL 0.102; PW 0.180-0.210 (0.195); PI 48.6-56.7 (52.6); PPL 0.162-0.180 (0.173); PPW 0.240-0.258 (0.246); PPI 67.5-75.0 (70.1); WL 0.720.

Moderately large; concolorous medium brown; head wider than long, smooth and shiny; anterior clypeal margin convex, lacking teeth or bumps; eyes black, large; medial ocellus black, small; mesosoma smooth and shiny; posterior propodeal margin rounded (viewed laterally); propodeal spiracle small; petiolar node arched with small bump ventrally; postpetiole semicircular, twice as high as petiolar node; sides of both petiole and postpetiole with thin, broken striae.

Moderately dense, pilosity yellow; erect and suberect hairs scattered on body surfaces; most hairs long (0.120 mm).

Type Material

Diplorhoptrum sulfurea not found. Solenopsis albidula Syntypus 1906, Museo Genova coll. C. Emery (dono 1925), Argentina, Buenos Aires, Nunez, ll-xi-98 (lectotype worker, 2 paralectotype workers, 3 paralectotype queens and 3 paralectotype males [here designated] Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa). Solenopsis albidula postbrunnea Forel coll. Brazil, Sao Paulo (lectotype worker and 2 paralectotype workers [here designated] Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève). Solenopsis albidula flava Sammlung Dr. F. Santschi Kairouan Argentina, Buenos Aires, La Plata (C. Bruch) (lectotype worker, 6 paralectotype workers and 1 paralectotype queen (broken) [here designated] Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel). Solenopsis albidula flava cotype 1-2 20910, M.Z.C. (lectotype worker and 1 paralectotype worker Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
  • Forel A. 1913. Fourmis d'Argentine, du Brésil, du Guatémala & de Cuba reçues de M. M. Bruch, Prof. v. Ihering, Mlle Baez, M. Peper et M. Rovereto. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles. 49: 203-250.
  • Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
  • Kempf W. W. 1961. A survey of the ants of the soil fauna in Surinam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 4: 481-524.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Luederwaldt H. 1918. Notas myrmecologicas. Rev. Mus. Paul. 10: 29-64.
  • Pacheco J. A., and W. P. Mackay. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 501 pp.
  • Ulyssea M. A., C. R. F. Brandao. 2013. Catalogue of Dacetini and Solenopsidini ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papies Avulsos de Zoologia 53(14): 187-209.
  • Vittar, F. 2008. Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mesopotamia Argentina. INSUGEO Miscelania 17(2):447-466
  • Vittar, F., and F. Cuezzo. "Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina." Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina (versión On-line ISSN 1851-7471) 67, no. 1-2 (2008).