Acanthostichus flexuosus
| Acanthostichus flexuosus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Acanthostichus |
| Species: | A. flexuosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthostichus flexuosus Mackay, W.P., 1996 | |
Nothing is known about the biology of Acanthostichus flexuosus.
Identification
A member of the serratulus species complex. Mackay (1996) - The male and worker are mounted on the same pin and are thus considered conspecific. The male of this species can be distinguished from others in the genus in that it is covered with abundant, long, flexuous hairs, the petiole is wider posteriorly and not greatly elongate. It is somewhat bicolored, with the head primarily light brown, darker around ocelli and at the frontal area; the scutellum is light brown with darker blotches at the anterior edge and two lateral edges, the scutellum and propodeum are dark brown, the gaster is light brown with the posterior edges of the terga darker.
The male of this species is completely different from those of any other species in the genus, due to the long, flexuous hairs, especially on the head and pronotum (Fig. 61). It is unlikely it could be confused with any other species. The worker, on the other hand, is apparently indistinguishable from that of Acanthostichus quadratus. The petiole and scape are identical to the type of A. quadratus. This species is apparently rare and is known only from the southern extreme of Brazil. Thus most specimens that fit the description will be the common A. quadratus. Those specimens collected in southern Brazil and the surrounding region will have to be treated as possibly belonging to this species. It is possible that it consists of a mixed species series, but both specimens are mounted on a single pin, making this unlikely.
Keys
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -27.05° to -27.05°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil (type locality).
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.
- flexuosus. Acanthostichus flexuosus Mackay, 1996: 151, fig. 61 (q.m.) BRAZIL (Santa Catarina).
- Type-material: holotype male, 1 paratype worker.
- Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia, 19.iv.1964 (E.S. & C.E. Ross); paratype with same data.
- Type-depository: MCZC.
- Distribution: Brazil.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Male
HL 0.83. HW (posterior to eye) 0.91, SL 0.30, EL 0.41, WL l.96, PW 0.43, PL 0.48, SI 36, CI 111, PI 112. Mandible toothless (except for angle at apex); median anterior border of clypeus angulate; frontal carinae not covering insertions of antennae; eyes large, covering much of side of head; three ocelli large, diameter of median ocellus (0.12 m) slightly larger than diameters of other two; scape large, length about 6 times length of fIrst segment of funiculus; head round in shape (excluding mandibles), vertex slightly concave above ocelli; mesosoma more robust than other members of the genus; petiole elongate, anterior petiolar face rounded and concave on two lateral corners and narrowed posteriorly, thus petiolar node widest at about midpoint; gaster as in other members of the genus; genitalia have been removed and are not with the specimen. All surfaces covered with elongate (up to 0.25 mm), curved, golden hairs; dilute decumbent pubescence present on gaster. Sculpture smooth and polished throughout. Color golden brown, with darker blotches on head and dorsum of mesosoma.
Type Material
Holotype male and paratype worker mounted on the same pin, Brazil, Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia, 19-iv-1964, E. S. and C. E. Ross (Museum of Comparative Zoology) (seen).
Etymology
From Latin, flexuosus meaning with many bends, referring to the setae of the male.
References
- Mackay, W.P. 1996. A revision of the ant genus Acanthostichus. Sociobiology 27: 129-179. [(31.xii).1996.] (page 151, fig. 61 queen, male described)
