Strumigenys confusatrix

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

Strumigenys confusatrix casent0102638 profile 1.jpg

Strumigenys confusatrix casent0102638 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Known from the type material. The specimen data did not include any ecological or biological details.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Four species of the godeffroyi-complex have the side of the alitrunk mostly or entirely reticulate-punctate, Strumigenys asrochia, Strumigenys confusatrix, Strumigenys indagatrix and Strumigenys strigatella. The Japanese species Strumigenys strigatella has very dense basigastral costulae that extend over half or more of the length of the first gastral tergite. The Sulawesi species asrochia has the disc of the postpetiole evenly densely reticulate-punctate. These two together do not have a convex crest of dense spongiform tissue on the dorsal surface of the propodeal tooth or its vestige; in asrochia the propodeal tooth is long and strongly developed but in strigatella it is reduced to a shadowy vestige at the dorsal apex of the lamella.

In confusatrix and indigatrix the propodeal lamella is large and spongiform; the propodeal teeth are vestigial or invisible and entirely buried in the lamella. The dorsal surface of each tooth bears a convex crest of spongiform tissue. Both species have basigastral costulae that extend much less than half the length of the tergite and neither has the postpetiole disc strongly reticulate-punctate. The main characters separating these two species include the distribution of erect flagellate hairs on the alitrunk and dimensions, as given in the key. Apart from these, in indigatrix the pair of erect hairs closest to the dorsal midline on the occipital margin are stiff and erect, relatively short and straight or at most only very shallowly curved. In confusatrix the pair of hairs at this location are longer, finer and abruptly curved anteriorly in the apical half of their length.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Malaysia (type locality).
Oriental Region: Thailand.

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.

  • confusatrix. Strumigenys confusatrix Bolton, 2000: 789, figs. 433, 499 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.

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 2.8, HL 0.74, HW 0.53, CI 72, ML 0.33, MI 45, SL 0.45, SI 85, PW 0.37, AL 0.80. Characters of godeffroyi-complex. Cephalic dorsum with pair of erect hairs closest to midline on occipital margin abruptly curved anteriorly in the apical half. With head in full-face view the dorsolateral margin posterior to the flagellate apicoscrobal hair has a row of 3-4 stiffly projecting hairs. These hairs contrast with the marginal hairs anterior to the flagellate hair as they are more cylindrical (i.e. not spatulate), more elevated and less strongly curved anteriorly. Ground-pilosity on pronotal dorsum long and conspicuous, arched and somewhat elevated, in profile appearing as a weak pelt. Dorsum of pronotum with 1-2 pairs of erect long flagellate hairs as well as the humeral pair. Mesonotum anteriorly with 1-2 pairs of erect long flagellate hairs, posteriorly with several pairs of shorter curved fine hairs. Entire side of alitrunk densely reticulate-punctate, without smooth patches anywhere. Propodeal declivity with a broad and very conspicuous spongiform lamella, the propodeal teeth only weakly developed (may be vestigial) and entirely buried in the lamella. Dorsal surface of propodeal tooth in profile surmounted by a convex crest or ridge of spongiform tissue. Disc of postpetiole unsculptured or with a few weak short costulae anteriorly; not reticulate-punctate. Basigastral costulae conspicuous but not extending half the length of the tergite.

Paratypes. TL 2.6-2.8, HL 0.71-0.73, HW 0.49-0.50, CI 68-70, ML 0.31-0.32, MI 44-45, SL 0.43-0.45, SI 86-92, PW 0.35-0.37, AL 0.76-0.80 (3 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. HL 0.67-0.72, HW 0.45-0.50, CI 68-69, ML 0.30, MI 42-45, SL 0.42-0.44, SI 88-93.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Pahang, Cameron Highlands, Gn. Jasar, trail 11, 1550 m., 24.iii.1993, #18b (Lobl & Calame) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. 3 workers with same data as holotype (MHNG, The Natural History Museum).

References

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