Strumigenys lucifuga

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Strumigenys lucifuga
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Strumigenys
Species: S. lucifuga
Binomial name
Strumigenys lucifuga
(Bolton, 2000)

Strumigenys lucifuga casent0900064 p 1 high.jpg

Strumigenys lucifuga casent0900064 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

A specimen was found in a rainforest litter-sample.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys lujae-group. S. lucifuga appears to be closest related to Strumigenys geoterra but the two are easily separated by the characters given in the key.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 2.06889° to 2.06889°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Gabon (type locality).

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

Nomenclature

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

  • lucifuga. Pyramica lucifuga Bolton, 2000: 314 (w.) GABON. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122

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 0.48, HW 0.36, CI 75, ML 0.20, MI 42, SL 0.32, SI 89, PW 0.28, AL 0.58. Upper scrobe margin in full-face view with narrow border that peter out posteriorly; in profile scrobe shallow and poorly developed, its upper margin very feebly developed posterior to level of eye. Apicoscrobal hair absent. Dorsum of head sharply reticulate-punctate, with small spatulate ground-pilosity that is feebly elevated; a single pair of anteriorly curved stout remiform hairs present close to occipital margin. Pronotum without a projecting simple or flagellate humeral hair but a strongly recurved narrowly spatulate hair, similar to but slightly longer than the pronotal ground-pilosity, is present at the humeru . Mesonotum with a single pair of erect stout remiform hairs. Pronotal dorsum and sides unsculptured, glassy smooth. Mesonotum and propodeal dorsum finely reticulate-punctulate, the declivity weakly sculptured. Dorsum of petiole node finely sculptured and dull; disc of postpetiole un sculptured and smooth. Pleurae and side of propodeum mostly smooth, punctate peripherally. Petiole and postpetiole posterodorsally each with a single pair of stout, thickly remiform hairs, the first gastral tergite with similar hairs.

Paratypes. TL 2.0, HL 0.48-0.50, HW 0.36-0.37, CI 74-75, ML 0.20, MI 40-42, SL 0.32, SI 86-89, PW 0.27-0.28, AL 0.58 (2 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Gabon: Provo Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km. 108° ESE Minvoul, 2°04.8'N, 12°24.4'E, 600 m., 1l.ii.1998, #1684(39) (B.L. Fisher) (The Natural History Museum).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype (South African Museum, 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. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 314, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65