Strumigenys sardonica

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

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Specimen Labels

Known from the holotpye, a worker collected in a forest litter-sample.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys oxysma-group. The clypeal pilosity of sardonica is distinctive, being denser, longer and finer than in any other member of the group except Strumigenys mira. The latter is easily differentiated as it has erect hairs on the leading edges of the scapes, minute eyes of only 1-2 ommatidia and long flagellate hairs on the tibiae and basitarsi, all of which are absent in sardonica. Conversely, in sardonica the clypeus is almost unsculptured and has a highly polished anteromedian tumulus, whereas in mira the clypeus is finely sculptured and dull. In sardonica the long posteriorly curved hairs of the anterior clypeal margin that project beyond the lateral margins of the mandibles are almost filiform, being at most only fractionally broadened apically. In Strumigenys anarta, Strumigenys ogyga and Strumigenys oxysma these hairs are conspicuously remiform, clavate or spoon-shaped.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (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

Template:Strumigenys

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • sardonica. Pyramica sardonica Bolton, 2000: 326 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 127

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 0.52, HW 0.36, CI 69, ML 0.08, MI 15, SL 0.27, SI 75, PW 0.22, AL 0.50. Anterior clypeal margin with two pairs of elongate, almost filiform hairs that are blunted or extremely feebly clavate apically and that curve upward and posteriorly; in full-face view both pairs also project outward across the base of the mandible, the second of them clearly visible, projecting well beyond the outer mandibular margin before curving posteriorly. Lateral margins of clypeus behind this pair with a few fine anteriorly arched hairs. Standing hairs on disc of clypeus elongate and numerous, slightly thickened apically and all curving posteriorly or posteromedially. Disc of clypeus mostly smooth, with vestigial remnants of punctulate sculpture; anteromedian tumulus highly polished. With head in profile hairs on the dorsum relatively long, filiform to slightly thickened apically. Between clypeus and highest point of vertex hairs curve medially or posteromedially, behind this they curve anteriorly and just in front of the occipital margin there is a transverse row of 4 freely projecting, much longer, finer erect hairs that curve anteriorly. Dorsolateral margins of head with 3-4 freely laterally projecting long flagellate hairs on each side. Leading edge of scape with short hairs, simple to very narrowly spatulate, all decumbent to appressed and directed apically. Pronotal dorsum mostly smooth and shining, with faint scattered vestiges of longitudinal sculpture on each side of the median carina.

Type Material

Holotype worker, South Africa: Ciskei, Pirie For. Sta. , 8.xii.1987, E-Y 2560, forest litter (S. Endrody-Younga) (Transvaal Museum).

Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

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 326, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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