Strumigenys hypoturba

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

A specimen of this species was collected in a rainforest litter sample.

Identification

Bolton (2000) – A member of the smythiesii complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. See notes under Strumigenys habropilosa.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Strumigenys of East Asia
• Key to Strumigenys of India

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India (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.

• hypoturba. Strumigenys hypoturba Bolton, 2000: 809 (w.q.) INDIA.

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 2.5, HL 0.64, HW 0.55, CI 86, ML 0.25, MI 39, SL 0.31, SI 56, PW 0.31, AL 0.69. Characters of smythiesii-complex. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate; a second flagellate hair present posterior to this, close to occipital corner. Fringing pilosity of dorsolateral margin otherwise of short spatulate hairs that are narrower posteriorly, broader anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum evenly reticulate-punctate. In profile cephalic dorsum with curved spatulate ground-pilosity; occipital margin with a transverse row of 4-6 long fine simple standing hairs that are curved anteriorly, dorsum anterior to this with only the spatulate ground-pilosity, without standing hairs. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Promesonotal dorsum reticulate-punctate with traces of vague feeble longitudinal rugulae. Pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs, and mesonotum with 2-3 pairs of fine simple standing hairs, each also with shorter ground-pilosity. Middle and hind tibiae each with an erect fine hair on its dorsal (outer) surface (apparently no such hairs on femora but they may have been abraded away). Waist segments and gaster with long fine standing hairs that are simple to subflagellate. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole in profile short, its anterior margin at about the midlength of the node. Dorsum of petiole node broader than long, disc of postpetiole smooth except for a punctulate strip along its extreme posterior margin.

Type Material

Holotype worker, India: Madras, Nilgiri, 6 km. E Coonoor, 1400 m., 22.xi.1972, no. 42 (Besuchet & Lobl) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. 5 workers and 1 queen with same data as holotype but year given as 1973 (Besuchet, Lobl & Mussard); 3 workers and 1 queen with same data but 1600 m., no. 43; 1 worker Madras, Nilgiri, Halical nr Coonoor, 1600 m., 22.xi.1972 (Besuchet, Lobl & Mussard) (Museum of Comparative Zoology, The Natural History Museum).

References

• Bharti, H. & Akbar, S.A. 2013. Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with report of two new species and five new records including a tramp species from India. Sociobiology 60, 387-396 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v60i4.387-396).
• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 809, worker described)
• 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

• Dad J. M., S. A. Akbar, H. Bharti, and A. A. Wachkoo. 2019. Community structure and ant species diversity across select sites ofWestern Ghats, India. Acta Ecologica Sinica 39: 219–228.