Strumigenys lasia

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Strumigenys lasia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Strumigenys
Species: S. lasia
Binomial name
Strumigenys lasia
(Brown, 1976)

Strumigenys lasia casent0280698 p 1 high.jpg

Strumigenys lasia casent0280698 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

A forest species that has been collected from litter samples.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - The only member of the Strumigenys lasia-group. Cephalic dorsum finely loosely reticulate-rugulose. Pronotum flat, dorsum smooth with scattered small punctures. Remainder of dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate. Side of alitrunk mostly smooth, with fine puctulation on the propodeal side, at least in front of the spiracle. Dorsum of petiole and disc of postpetiole densely punctulate-rugulose.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -2.234166667° to -2.234166667°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Gabon (type locality), Uganda.

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

Explore-icon.png 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.

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Strumigenys lasia casent0280698 h 2 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0280698. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

  • lasia. Cladarogenys lasia Brown, 1976b: 34, figs. 1-5, A-D (w.) GABON. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122. See also: Bolton, 2000: 308.

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

Description

Worker

TL 2.8-3.2, HL 0.68-0.70, HW 0.50-0.52, CI 74, ML 0.30-0.32, MI 43-46, SL 0.46-0.52, SI 92-98, PW 0.40-0.42, al 0.80-0.82 (3 measured).

Bolton (1983) - TL 3.2, HL 0.70, HW 0.52, CI 74, ML 0.32, MI 46, SL 0.55, SI 106, AL 0.54.

Mandibles as noted under the generic diagnosis. Anterior clypeal margin prominent medially but not overlapping the bases of the mandibles. Posterodorsal margins of head forming a raised rim which extends to the posterolateral margin, expanded into a small flat truncated tubercle on each side and with a similar but smaller tubercle in front of this, just dorsal to the eye on each side. Dorsum of head densely clothed with simple fine hairs and with a long flagellate hair arising from the tubercle above the eye on each side. Dorsum of head irregularly rugulose, the spaces between the rugulae reticulate-punctate; clypeal dorsum reticulate-punctate. Posterodorsal corners of vertex with a sulcus which parallels the rim and is composed of 3-4 partially confluent foveae with concave shining bottoms. Pronotal humeri bluntly tuberculate and equipped with a pair of long flagellate hairs. Metanotal groove impressed. Pronotal dorsum shining, with quite dense shallow foveolae, the remainder of the dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate with superimposed rugulae, some of them enclosing irregular pits. Sides of pronotum finely punctate, mesopleuron finely punctulate and remainder of pleuron smooth; sides of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Petiole and postpetiole punctulate-rugulose. Gaster smooth with conspicuous basal costulae. Entire dorsum of body densely clothed with fine simple pilosity, and with paired long flagellate hairs on mesonotum and petiole. Postpetiole with several and gaster with more than 30 flagellate hairs.

Type Material

Bolton (1983) - Holotype worker, GABON: or Makokou, Laboratoire de Primatologie et d'Ecologie Equatoriale, ix.-xii.1972, berIesate of rain forest litter and humus (I. Lieberburg) (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. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomology. 46:267-416.
  • Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History. 33:1639-1689. (page 1672, combination in Pyramica)
  • Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 65:1-1028 (page 308, redescription of worker)
  • Brown, W. L., Jr. 1976b. Cladarogenys lasia species nov. Pilot Regist. Zool. Card No. 34. (page 34, figs. 1-5, A-D worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 267-416.
  • Bolton B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 33: 1639-1689.
  • Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
  • Brown W. L. J. 1976. Cladarogenys lasia species nov. Pilot Register of Zoology. Card No. 34: 1-2.