.jpg){kind=logo}
Strumigenys tetragnatha
| Strumigenys tetragnatha | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Strumigenys |
| Species: | S. tetragnatha |
| Binomial name | |
| Strumigenys tetragnatha (Taylor, 1966)
| |
A widely ranging litter species that has been collected from numerous forest habitats.
Identification
A member of the Strumigenys tetragnatha-group. The only known relative of tetragnatha is Strumigenys africana; the two are separated as follows in the worker.
| africana | tetragnatha |
| Larger species with shorter antennal scapes, HW 0.70, SI 43. | Smaller species with longer antennal scapes, HW 0.49-0.58, SI 47-51. |
| Lateral margins of head in full-face view with 3 pairs of projecting flagellate hairs. | Lateral margins of head in full-face view without flagellate hairs. |
| Appressed cephalic pilosity longer posteriorly than anteriorly; much longer than the clypeal pubescence. | Appressed cephalic pilosity very short, of approximately equal length everywhere; no longer than the clypeal pubescence. |
| Postpetiole and first gastral tergite with numerous long fine flagellate hairs. | Postpetiole and first gastral tergite with simple sparse short straight hairs. |
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 6.5° to -7.70961°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola (type locality), Cameroun, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya.
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
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- tetragnatha. Codiomyrmex tetragnathus Taylor, 1966a: 225, figs. 1, 2 (w.) ANGOLA. Combination in Glamyromyrmex: Bolton, 1983: 323; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 129. See also: Bolton, 2000: 330.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 2.4-2.8, HL 0.60-0.70, HW 0.49-0.58, CI 79-83, ML 0.14-0.16, MI 22-24, SL 0.25-0.28, SI 47-51, PW 0.28-0.34, AL 0.58-0.62 (4 measured).
Mandibles with a broad basal lamella followed by a row of 5 large triangular teeth which are slightly recurved and evenly spaced on the strongly down curving arch of the apical margin. Distal to this tooth row is a series of 3 denticles which share a common base on a low process. In profile the mandibles rapidly increasing in width from base to apex, the upper and lower borders strongly divergent, the former arching up above the level of the anterior clypeal margin, the latter shallowly concave and downcurved; apical margin as seen in profile strongly arched-convex. With the head in full-face view the anterior clypeal margin with a median indentation, the clypeus broad but the lateral free margins not extended into lobes and noticeably narrower than the sides of the head behind the clypeus. General shape of head in profile and full-face views as described for africanus. Antennal scapes short (SI 47-51) and feebly clavate, not bent near the base, with the leading edge more or less evenly convex and lacking projecting hairs. Clypeal dorsum with minute appressed pubescence which is directed anteriorly. Dorsum of head with anteriorly or anteromedially directed minute appressed hairs which are approximately the same length everywhere on the dorsum and no longer than the clypeal pubescence. Lateral margins of head without flagellate hairs. Clypeus smooth. Dorsum of head with minute scattered pits from which the hairs arise, otherwise unsculptured except for a feeble superficial shagreening in places. Sides of alitrunk sharply laterally marginate throughout their length, most strongly so on the pronotum where the marginations are prominent and overhang the sides. Pronotum also marginate anteriorly and with a median longitudinal ridge or carina dorsally. Dorsum of mesonotum separated from the short propodeal dorsum by a low transverse crest; metanotal groove absent. Propodeal teeth very broad basally, rapidly tapering apically and with the extreme apices suddenly upcurved. Infradental lamellae much narrower than the propodeal teeth, the latter with more than half their length standing free of the lamellae. Sides of alitrunk unsculptured except for the punctate mesopleuron and some weak peripheral sculpture round the margins of the segments. Dorsal alitrunk with some superficial rugular vestiges on the pronotum and mesonotum beside the median carina. Lateral margins of alitrunk with two pairs of long simple hairs, the first pair at the pronotal humeri, the second pair just in front of the transverse crest that separates mesonotum from propodeum. Dorsal alitrunk otherwise with only sparse appressed simple hairs which are very short. Spongiform ventral appendage of petiole peduncle massively developed and curtain-like, about as deep as the node is high. Other spongiform material on petiole reduced to short aliform prominences situated lateroventrally when the node is viewed from above. Petiole node sparsely rugulose, disc of postpetiole finely densely and quite regularly longitudinally costulate. Lateral spongiform appendages of petiole narrow in dorsal view, broadest posterolaterally. Anterior face of the postpetiolar disc with a narrow bordering lamella, the posterior margin bordered by a convex rim which abuts a similar but concave rim bordering the base of the first gastral tergite. First gastral tergite lamellate basally, not spongiform, with numerous strong basigastral costulae and with many secondary costulae arising between them on the body of the tergite. First gastral sternite without a basal spongiform pad. Petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite with scattered short straight simple hairs. Colour blackish brown to black.
Type Material
Bolton (1983) - Holotype worker, ANGOLA: Dundo, Route Turismo, approx 7"02'S, 20051'E, gallery forest, 28.iii.1962, no. 16888, R. Luachimo, ‘berlesate by native collector’ (Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined].
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.) Entomol. 46:267-416. (page 323, Combination in Glamyromyrmex, redescription of worker)
- Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Nat. Hist. 3 33: 1639-1689 (page 1672, combination in Pyramica)
- Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 330, figs. 215, 237 redescription of worker)
- Taylor, R. W. 1966a [1965]. A second African species of the dacetine ant genus Codiomyrmex. Psyche (Camb.) 72: 225-228 (page 225, figs. 1, 2 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 3: 5-16.
- Belshaw R., and B. Bolton. 1994. A survey of the leaf litter ant fauna in Ghana, West Africa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 3: 5-16.
- Bolton B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 267-416.
- Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
- CSIRO Collection
- Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
- Ross S. R. P. J., F. Hita Garcia, G. Fischer, and M. K. Peters. 2018. Selective logging intensity in an East African rain forest predicts reductions in ant diversity. Biotropica 1-11.
- Taylor R. W. 1966. A second African species of the dacetine ant genus Codiomyrmex. Psyche (Cambridge) 72: 225-228.
- Yeo K., S. Konate, S. Tiho, and S. K. Camara. 2011. Impacts of land use types on ant communities in a tropical forest margin (Oumé - Cote d'Ivoire). African Journal of Agricultural Research 6(2): 260-274.