Strumigenys asaphes

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

The type material was collected from evergreen forest litter.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the excisa-complex in the Strumigenys excisa-group. Closely related to Strumigenys dontopagis and Strumigenys excisa and with them forming the excisa-complex of this group. S. asaphes differs from both dontopagis and excisa as follows.

S. asaphes: Outline of first gastral sternite longitudinally concave in basal half. Basal quarter of first gastral sternite strongly transversely concave on each side of midline, the midline itself a sharp longitudinal ridge. Lateral lobes of petiole and postpetiole well developed, lamellate. Eye with 4-5 ommatidia in total.

S. dontopagis and excisa: Outline of first gastral sternite longitudinally convex in basal half. Basal quarter of first gastral sternite shallowly transversely convex on each side of midline, the midline not forming a ridge. Lateral lobes of petiole minute to vestigial, of postpetiole small and triangular. Eye with 1 0 or more ommatidia in total.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical Strumigenys (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Belize (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.

asaphes. Pyramica asaphes Bolton, 2000: 171 (w.) BELIZE. 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 2.0, HL 0.57, HW 0.50, CI 88, ML 0.11, MI 19, SL 0.24, SI 48, PW 0.28, AL 0.56. Eye small, with 4-5 ommatidia in total , located at extreme ventrolateral margin of head on a ventrally directed triangular prominence of the margin. Ventrolateral margin of head very sharply marginate from eye to posterior apex of scrobe. Petiole node in dorsal view distinctly broader than long. Petiole and postpetiole with extensive, roughly triangular, aliform lateral lobes that are lamellate and translucent. Base of gaster strongly dorsoventrally compressed. In profile longitudinal outline of first gastral sternite concave from close to midpoint to base; basally strongly transversely concave on each side of the midline and laterally overhung by the tergite. Hairs on clypeal dorsum dense, short and fine, elevated and arched anteriorly, very obvious in profile. Dorsolateral margins of head with numerous freely laterally projecting fine simple hairs. Dorsa of head, alitrunk and first gastral tergite with numerous fine simple standing hairs that are straight to shallowly curved. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi with freely projecting long fine hairs, those on tibiae erect to suberect. Dorsum of head smooth and shining , peripherally with weak sculpture close to the lateral margins. Side of head behind scrobe loosely rugulose. Alitrunk and waist segments unsculptured, smooth and shining everywhere. Basigastral costulae vestigial to absent on smooth median third of segment, but on each side of the smooth area weak but long costulae are present that extend over half the length of the tergite.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Belize ("British Honduras· on data label): Augustine, 1500 ft, 20.viii.1972, evergreen forest litter (S. & J. Peck) (The Natural History Museum).

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 171, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Branstetter M. G. and L. Sáenz. 2012. Las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de Guatemala. Pp. 221-268 in: Cano E. B. and J. C. Schuster. (eds.) 2012. Biodiversidad de Guatemala. Volumen 2. Guatemala: Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, iv + 328 pp