Acanthomyrmex notabilis

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Acanthomyrmex notabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Acanthomyrmex
Species: A. notabilis
Binomial name
Acanthomyrmex notabilis
(Smith, F., 1860)

Acanthomyrmex notabilis casent0281789 p 1 high.jpg

Acanthomyrmex notabilis casent0281789 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

The ants nest in cavities within logs in primary rainforests. Nests typically contain stores of fig seeds and other tiny seeds (Moffett, 1985).

Identification

Moffett (1986) - Postpetiole of both worker castes narrow, much wider than deep in dorsal view; propodeal spines long; minors with head convex across posterior margin in dorsal view (except for very feeble medial concavity), without funicular scrobe, and with ventral mandible tooth lacking. Minor. Syntype measures HW 1.01, HL

Minor specimens from a Seram collection tending to be somewhat smaller than those from Sulawesi (HW averaging [X ± se] 1.13 ± 0.04 mm, versus 1.02 ± 0.04 mm for the Sulawesi minors; samples of 36 and 7 minors, respectively).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -0.616667° to -0.617°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • notabilis. Pheidole notabilis Smith, F. 1860b: 111, pl. 1, figs. 3, 4 (s.w.) INDONESIA (Bacan I.).
    • Type-material: 1 syntype major worker, 1 syntype minor worker.
    • Type-locality: Indonesia: Bachian (= Bacan) I., “Bac. 50” (A.R. Wallace).
    • Type-depository: OXUM.
    • Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1983: 606 (l.).
    • Combination in Acanthomyrmex: Emery, 1893a: cclxxvi.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 31; Mayr, 1863: 441; Smith, F. 1871a: 332; Dalla Torre, 1893: 93; Emery, 1924d: 235; Donisthorpe, 1932c: 464; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 115; Moffett, 1985a: 165; Moffett, 1986c: 86 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 53; Yamada, Ito, et al. 2018: 10.
    • Distribution: Indonesia (Bacan, Seram, Sulawesi).

Description

Moffett (1986) - Spines on trunk long, somewhat curved caudad (straighter in most specimens from other series); propodeal spines slightly longer than those on pronotum. Pronotal spines without conspicuous hairs. Pronotal angle forming a feeble but distinct tooth in most specimens, but not in holotype. Propodeal declivity bordered on each side by two adjacent rugae, as described for Acanthomyrmex basispinosus (luciolae group).

Node of petiole as in figure, PWI narrow to intermediate (79 in syntype, and 47 to 89 in eight specimens from other series). Anterior peduncle of petiole relatively short and deep, and lacking both lateral and sublateral petiolar hairs; subpetiolar declivity absent. Postpetiole narrow (almost twice as wide as it is long in dorsal view) and with a relatively raised node, and resembling that of A. basispinosus, although with only two pairs of hairs dorsally. Femora lacking all but basal hairs; ventral surfaces distinctly concave, particularly in the hind legs. Reddish orange to orange yellow, legs lighter.

Major. Syntype measures HW 2.25, HL 2.30 (CI 98), SL 1.11 (SI 49), EL 0.25, HFL 1.23 (FLI 54; FWI 20) mm. Relatively large, shallow foveae on head widely scattered dorsally (virtually lacking in area immediately above clypeus), denser laterally. Cephalic hollow present but indistinct. A darkly pigmented streak extends to hollow from dorsum of head; wide medial sulcus conspicuous from hollow to frontal area. Clypeal index larger than in minors, 138 in holotype. Forward margin of clypeus lacking a medial projection although two very feeble, rounded lobes are sometimes present). Hypostomal teeth not accessible to view in holotype; usually present in other material. Propodeal spines moderately long and almost straight (generally not quite as long and usually curving somewhat caudad in other notabilis material). Pronotal angle lacking the feeble tooth characteristic of the minor caste. Anterior node of petiole generally deeper than in minors.

Type Material

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Pheidole notabilis One syntype worker major and one syntype worker minor in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Bac. 50.”

References

  • Emery, C. 1893c [1892]. [Untitled. Introduced by: "M. C. Emery, de Bologne, envoie les diagnoses de cinq nouveaux genres de Formicides".]. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. (Bull.) 61:cclxxv-cclxxvii. (page cclxxvi, Combination in Acanthomyrmex)
  • Moffett, M. W. 1985a. Behavioral notes on the Asiatic harvesting ants Acanthomyrmex notabilis and A. ferox. Psyche (Camb.) 92: 165-179 (page 165, see also)
  • Moffett, M.W. 1986c. Revision of the myrmicine genus Acanthomyrmex. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 151:55-89. [15.viii.1986.]
  • Smith, F. 1860b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Bachian, Kaisaa, Amboyna, Gilolo, and at Dory in New Guinea. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 5(17b)(suppl. to vol. 4 4: 93-143 (page 111, pl. 1, figs. 3, 4 soldier, worker described)
  • Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1983a. Supplementary studies on ant larvae: Myrmicinae. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 108: 601-610 (page 606, larva described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
  • Emery C. 1893. [Untitled. Introduced by: "M. C. Emery, de Bologne, envoie les diagnoses de cinq nouveaux genres de Formicides".]. Bulletin Bimensuel de la Société Entomologique de France 1892: cclxxv-cclxxvii.
  • Moffett M.W. 1985. Behavioral notes on the asiatic harvesting ants Acanthomyrmex notabilis and A. ferox. Psyche 92: 165-180.
  • Moffett, M. 1986. Revision of the myrmicinae genus Acanthomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 151(2):55-89.
  • Moffett, M. W. 1986. Revision of the myrmicine genus Acanthomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 151:55-89.
  • Smith, Fr. "Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the Islands of Bachian, Kaisaa, Amboyna, Gilolo, and at Dory in New Guinea." Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 5 (1860): 93-143.
  • Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.