Strumigenys arges

Strumigenys arges
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. arges
Binomial name
	Strumigenys arges; (Bolton, 2000) Specimen labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys arges.

Identification

Bolton (2000) – A member of the Strumigenys sauteri-group. For relationship and separation of this species see under Strumigenys sauteri.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Thailand (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

Explore Overview of Strumigenys biology

Strumigenys were once thought to be rare. The development and increased use of litter sampling methods has led to the discovery of a tremendous diversity of species. Many species are specialized predators (e.g. see Strumigenys membranifera and Strumigenys louisianae). Collembola (springtails) and other tiny soil arthropods are typically favored prey. Species with long linear mandibles employ trap-jaws to sieze their stalked prey (see Dacetine trap-jaws). Larvae feed directly on insect prey brought to them by workers. Trophallaxis is rarely practiced. Most species live in the soil, leaf litter, decaying wood or opportunistically move into inhabitable cavities on or under the soil. Colonies are small, typically less than 100 individuals but in some species many hundreds. Moist warm habitats and micro-habitats are preferred. A few better known tramp and otherwise widely ranging species tolerate drier conditions. Foraging is often in the leaf litter and humus. Workers of many species rarely venture above ground or into exposed, open areas. Individuals are typically small, slow moving and cryptic in coloration. When disturbed individuals freeze and remain motionless. Males are not known for a large majority of species.

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

arges. Pyramica arges Bolton, 2000: 462 (w.q.) THAILAND. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 115

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.66, HW 0.49, CI 74, ML 0.04, MI 6, SL 0.27, SI 55, PW 0.30, AL 0.64. Anterior clypeal margin evenly deeply concave between distinctly projecting narrowly rounded anterolateral clypeal angles. Lateral margins of clypeus convex in full-face view, especially anteriorly where the sides converge toward the anterolateral angles. Dentition as described above. Leading edge of scape evenly shallowly convex in the basal half, without a prominent angular extension of the margin. Dorsum of head finely reticulate-punctate. Eye with 4 ommatidia in the longest row. Standing hairs extremely sparse: absent from dorsal head, alitrunk and petiole; one pair present posteriorly on propodeal disc, one pair at extreme base of first gastral tergite, present around gastral apex. Leading edges of scapes and entirety of legs lacking prominent hairs of any form. Dorsal alitrunk and propodeal declivity between the teeth finely and densely punctulate. Petiole node and disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. First gastral tergite smooth, with extremely short basigastral costulae that scarcely extend beyond the posterior limit of the limbus. Mesopleuron and most of metapleuron smooth and shining. Propodeum armed with a pair of triangular teeth that are broad basally and subtended by a carina rather than a lamella. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole large in profile but not extending as far forward as the level of the anterior face of the node. Petiole node in dorsal view fractionally broader than long (discounting the posterior collar). Disc of postpetiole transversely subovate, margined by spongiform tissue.

Paratypes. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.64-0.68, HW 0.46-0.50, CI 72-74, ML 0.04-0.06, MI 6-9, SL 0.26-0.28, SI 53-57, PW 0.26-0.28, AL 0.58-0.62 (4 measured). As holotype but petiole in dorsal view as long as broad in some paratypes.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Thailand: Doi Suthep, 5.xi.1985, no. 11 (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. Thailand: 3 workers and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype; 2 workers, Doi Suthep, 4.xi.1985, no. 7 (Lobl & Burckhardt) (MHN, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Baroni Urbani, C. & De Andrade, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria” 99:1-191.
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 462, worker described)
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).
Tang, K. L., Guénard, B. 2023. Further additions to the knowledge of Strumigenys (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) within South East Asia, with the descriptions of 20 new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 907, 1–144 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2023.907.2327).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65