Strumigenys benulia

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

Strumigenys benulia has been collected in Thailand in a secondary forests at an elevation of 530 m (Tang & Guenard, 2023).

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the cygarix complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. See notes under Strumigenys dipsas.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Tang & Guenard (2023) - In addition to the previous records in the central to south provinces of Thailand, we now report its presence in the north-eastern province of Sakon Nakhon, extending the known range of this species by 500 km NE.

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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• benulia. Strumigenys benulia Bolton, 2000: 754 (w.) THAILAND.

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 2.1, HL 0.56, HW 0.39, CI 70, ML 0.21, MI 38, SL 0.28, SI 72, PW 0.24, AL 0.56. Mandible with a small preapical tooth, located close to the apicodorsal tooth. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with at least 6 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs: one just posterior to frontal lobe, one just before and one just behind level of eye, one in apicoscrobal position, 2-3 posterior to this on lateral margin of occipital lobe. Cephalic dorsum with fine curved standing hairs numerous, arising from in front of level of eye to occipital margin. Dorsum of head densely reticulate-punctate and with some small feeble rugulae. Apical funicular segment moderately constricted basally. Promesonotal dorsum and side of pronotum sharply densely punctate. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum mostly smooth and shining. Anterior coxae finely reticulate-punctate. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Dorsal alitrunk with numerous erect subflagellate to flagellate fine hairs, at least 4 pairs present on mesonotum. First gastral tergite with numerous long fine filiform to flagellate hairs. Dorsal surface of hind femur with a spaced row of standing hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of hind tibia and basitarsus each with long erect freely projecting filiform or flagellate hairs. Propodeal teeth short, triangular and acute. Petiole in profile not claviform, with a differentiated anterior face to node.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Thailand: Kaeng Krachan N. P., 13.xi.1985, no. 26 (Burckhardt & Lobl) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 754, 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