Vollenhovia

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Vollenhovia
Temporal range: 37.2–0 Ma Eocene – Recent
Vollenhovia emeryi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Alliance: Vollenhovia genus group
Genus: Vollenhovia
Mayr, 1865
Type species
Vollenhovia punctatostriata
Diversity
83 species
3 fossil species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Vollenhovia emeryi casent0003196 profile 1.jpg

Vollenhovia emeryi

Vollenhovia emeryi casent0003196 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

Vollenhovia species usually inhabit forest habitats and nest in rotting twigs, wood fragments and logs, and in spaces under the bark of logs. (Eguchi, Bui and Yamane 2011)

Identification

Similar to Gauromyrmex but differing by the 12-segmented antennae and the unarmed propodeum.

Terayama and Kinomura (1997) - This genus is distinguished from the other genera of the subfamily Myrmicinae by the following characteristics: 1) frontal carinae and antennal scrobes absent; 2) clypeus more or less longitudinally bicarinate; 3) antennae with 12 segments, rarely 11 segments. the funicles ending in a 3-segmented club; 4) frontal lobes present; 5) maxillary palp with 1-3 segments. usually 2 segments; 6) eyes present, relatively large; 7) ventral processes distinct on meso-and metasternum; 8) middle and hind legs without tibial spur; 9) petiole sessile or subsessile; 10) subpetiolar process present, often blade-like; 11) petiole not particularly more voluminous than postpetiole in dorsal view.

Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - The worker of Vollenhovia is easily separated from those of other known Vietnamese myrmicine genera by the flattened body and the posterodorsal margin of petiole produced as a rim.

Keys including this Genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 0 3 63 2 2 0 18 9
Total Species 2840 1735 3042 932 835 4378 1740 2862

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Zhangpu amber, Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, China (Miocene) (an unidentified species, Wang et al., 2021).

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

All Associate Records for Genus

Click here to show/hide associate data.
Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Vollenhovia emeryi host ant Vollenhovia nipponica workerless inquiline Japan Kinomura, 1992
Vollenhovia nipponica workerless inquiline ant Vollenhovia emeryi host Japan de la Mora et al., 2021; Kinomura, 1992; Ohkawara & Aonuma, 2016

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 150 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: inquilinism (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: predator (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• Antennal segment count: 11; 12 • Antennal club: 3 • Palp formula: 2,2; 2,1 • Total dental count: 5-8 • Spur formula: 0, 0 • Eyes: 11-100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Male Morphology

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Male Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

 • Antennal segment count 12; 13 • Antennal club gradual • Palp formula 2,2 • Total dental count 0 • Spur formula 0, 0

Phylogeny

Myrmicinae
Myrmicini
Pogonomyrmecini
Stenammini
Solenopsidini
Attini

Ochetomyrmex  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Tranopelta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Diaphoromyrma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lachnomyrmex  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Blepharidatta  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Allomerus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Wasmannia  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Pheidole  (1,294 species, 7 fossil species)

Cephalotes  (123 species, 16 fossil species)

Procryptocerus  (44 species, 0 fossil species)

Strumigenys  (879 species, 4 fossil species)

Phalacromyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Pilotrochus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Protalaridris  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Rhopalothrix  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Basiceros  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Octostruma  (35 species, 0 fossil species)

Eurhopalothrix  (55 species, 0 fossil species)

Talaridris  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthognathus  (7 species, 1 fossil species)

Daceton  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Lenomyrmex  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Microdaceton  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Orectognathus  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Colobostruma  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Epopostruma  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

Mesostruma  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Paleoattina

Apterostigma  (44 species, 2 fossil species)

Mycocepurus  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmicocrypta  (31 species, 0 fossil species)

Neoattina

Cyatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Kalathomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetarotes  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetosoritis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex  (23 species, 2 fossil species)

some Cyphomyrmex

Paramycetophylax  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetophylax  (21 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetagroicus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Mycetomoellerius  (31 species, 1 fossil species)

Sericomyrmex  (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Xerolitor  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Paratrachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Trachymyrmex  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Amoimyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Atta  (20 species, 1 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex  (56 species, 0 fossil species)

some Acromyrmex

Pseudoatta  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogastrini

Rostromyrmex  (1 species, 6 fossil species)

Cardiocondyla  (90 species, 0 fossil species)

Ocymyrmex  (34 species, 0 fossil species)

Nesomyrmex  (84 species, 2 fossil species)

Xenomyrmex  (5 species, 0 fossil species)

Terataner  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Atopomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Cataulacus  (65 species, 3 fossil species)

Carebara  (248 species, 9 fossil species)

Diplomorium  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Melissotarsus  (4 species, 1 fossil species)

Rhopalomastix  (14 species, 0 fossil species)

Calyptomyrmex  (38 species, 0 fossil species)

Strongylognathus  (27 species, 0 fossil species), Tetramorium  (598 species, 2 fossil species)

Cyphoidris  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Dicroaspis  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Aretidris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Vollenhovia  (83 species, 3 fossil species)

Dacetinops  (7 species, 0 fossil species)

Indomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Crematogaster  (782 species, 3 fossil species)

Meranoplus  (91 species, 0 fossil species)

Lophomyrmex  (13 species, 0 fossil species)

Adlerzia  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Recurvidris  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Stereomyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Trichomyrmex  (29 species, 0 fossil species)

Eutetramorium  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Royidris  (15 species, 0 fossil species)

Malagidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Vitsika  (16 species, 0 fossil species)

Huberia  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Podomyrma  (62 species, 1 fossil species)

Liomyrmex  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Metapone  (31 species, 0 fossil species)

Kartidris  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Mayriella  (9 species, 0 fossil species)

Tetheamyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Dacatria  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Proatta  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Dilobocondyla  (22 species, 0 fossil species)

Secostruma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Acanthomyrmex  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Myrmecina  (106 species, 0 fossil species)

Perissomyrmex  (6 species, 0 fossil species)

Pristomyrmex  (61 species, 3 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma  (36 species, 0 fossil species)

Propodilobus  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Lasiomyrma  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Ancyridris  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

some Lordomyrma

Paratopula  (12 species, 0 fossil species)

Poecilomyrma  (2 species, 0 fossil species)

Romblonella  (10 species, 0 fossil species)

Rotastruma  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Gauromyrmex  (3 species, 0 fossil species)

Vombisidris  (19 species, 0 fossil species)

Temnothorax  (504 species, 7 fossil species)

Harpagoxenus  (4 species, 0 fossil species)

Formicoxenus  (8 species, 0 fossil species)

Leptothorax  (20 species, 0 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Myrmicinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • VOLLENHOVIA [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
    • Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865: 21. Type-species: Vollenhovia punctatostriata, by monotypy.
    • Vollenhovia senior synonym of †Propodomyrma: Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 51; Emery, 1922e: 163.
    • Vollenhovia senior synonym of Vollenhovenia: Forel, 1893a: 166.
    • Vollenhovia senior synonym of Dorothea, Dyomorium, Heteromyrmex: Ettershank, 1966: 146.
    • Vollenhovia senior synonym of Aratromyrmex: Baroni Urbani, 1980: 96.
  • ARATROMYRMEX [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Aratromyrmex Stitz, 1938: 105. Type-species: Aratromyrmex luctuosus, by subsequent designation of Donisthorpe, 1943f: 625.
    • Aratromyrmex junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Baroni Urbani, 1980: 96.
  • DOROTHEA [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Dorothea Donisthorpe, 1948c: 65. Type-species: Dorothea novobritainae, by monotypy.
    • Dorothea junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Ettershank, 1966: 146.
  • DYOMORIUM [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Dyomorium Donisthorpe, 1947d: 191. Type-species: Dyomorium ireneum, by original designation.
    • Dyomorium junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Ettershank, 1966: 146.
  • HETEROMYRMEX [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Heteromyrmex Wheeler, W.M. 1920: 53. Type-species: Vollenhovia rufiventris, by original designation.
    • Heteromyrmex junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Ettershank, 1966: 146.
  • PROPODOMYRMA [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Propodomyrma Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 163 (by indication). Type-species: †Propodomyrma samlandica (junior synonym of †Macromischa beyrichi), by monotypy.
    • [†Propodomyrma Wheeler, W.M. 1908g: 413. Nomen nudum.]
    • Propodomyrma junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 51.
  • VOLLENHOVENIA [junior synonym of Vollenhovia]
    • Vollenhovenia Dalla Torre, 1893: 61, unjustified subsequent emendation of Vollenhovia.
    • Vollenhovenia junior synonym of Vollenhovia: Forel, 1893a: 166; Emery, 1922e: 163.

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

Taxonomic Notes

Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - Workers of Vietnamese species have the following features. Worker monomorphic; head in full-face view subrectangular; frontal carina and antennal scrobe absent; median portion of clypeus raised, laterally margined with a slight to conspicuous longitudinal carina; anteromedian portion often forming a transverse strip; an isolated median seta absent; posteromedian portion relatively narrowly inserted between frontal lobes; lateral portion of clypeus never modified into a distinct ridge or wall in front of antennal insertion; mandible triangular; masticatory margin with 6 or more teeth; antennae 11- or 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; eye always present, small to medium sized; mesosoma in lateral view long and low; promesonotum in lateral view usually not domed; promesonotal suture absent dorsally; metanotal groove weakly to slightly impressed dorsally; posterodorsal portion of propodeum with rounded corners or small teeth; propodeal lobe present as carina or low lamella; petiole nodiform; anterior peduncle short and obscure; posterodorsal margin of petiole produced posterodorsad as a rim which is distinctly (or at least a little) higher than the dorsal outline of helcium of petiole when waist segments stretched posteriad; subpetiolar process usually (but not always) developed as a large lamella; gastral shoulder absent.

Description

Karyotype

  • Vollenhovia sp.(ANIC-3): 2n = 40 (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977).
  • Vollenhovia sp.1: 2n = 49 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Vollenhovia sp.1: 2n = 50 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Vollenhovia sp.2: 2n = 36 (Indonesia) (Imai et al., 1985).
  • Vollenhovia sp.2: 2n = 33 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Vollenhovia sp.2: 2n = 34 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
  • Vollenhovia: n = 11 (Crozier, 1975).

References