Acropyga smithii

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Acropyga smithii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Plagiolepidini
Genus: Acropyga
Species group: smithii
Species: A. smithii
Binomial name
Acropyga smithii
Forel, 1893

Acropyga smithii casent0178614 profile 1.jpg

Acropyga smithii casent0178614 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms

This species is the first recorded Acropyga species being transported by man (from Belize to Alabama presumably by ship: information from label data).

Identification

Lapolla (2004) - 7-8 segmented antennae; mandibles broad with 4 distinct teeth; mesosomal dorsum relatively flat (pronotum and mesonotum at about same height); an especially small species (total length < l.7 mm). Queen: as in worker with modifications expected for caste. Male: 9 segmented antennae; head longer than broad; in lateral view, parameres slightly tapering to a rounded apex; cuspi short meeting digiti dorsally. Compare with: Acropyga exsanguis, Acropyga fuhrmanni, and Acropyga stenotes.

This is among the smallest New World species (TL: 1.2-1.6); Acropyga panamensis is around the same size, though it is quite different morphologically from A. smithii. A. smithii workers can possess antennal segment counts as low as 7 segments, the lowest number observed in a New World Acropyga (the only other species to have antennal segment counts this low is Acropyga oceanica from Southeastern Asia). A. smithii could be confused with Acropyga stenotes because they both are small species that have distinctly longer than broad heads, but A. stenotes has 11-segmented antennae.

A. smithii is the only member of the decedens species-group known to possess broadly rounded paramere apices in the male. It shares several characteristics with Acropyga fuhrmanni such as elongated penis valves, antennal segment counts in the worker not greater than 8 segments and similarly shaped mandibles.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 18.5859972° to -23.33°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Lesser Antilles, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (type locality), Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

The species has a large range from Central America (to Belize) southward, probably throughout tropical South America. It has also been found in the Lesser Antilles.

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

LaPolla (2004) - A. smithii is known to inhabit rainforests and cacao plantations. It occurs in the soil and litter; Weber (1944) reported nests from red clay soils down to a depth of 7.5 cm. Queens have been recorded from under the bark of a rotten log. Weber (1944) reported that at least two queens were found in one nest, indicating that this species may be polygynous. Winged reproductives have been collected from January-May. Two mealybug species have been recorded with this species, Neochavesia eversi, and Geococcus coffeae.

Castes

Male

LaPolla, J.S., Schneider, S.A. 2023. Figures 1–3. Dissected penial sclerites of various species in ectal view. Scale bar: Acropyga fuhrmanni and A. smithii = 0.03 mm; Acropyga manuense = 0.05 mm.

Phylogeny

Acropyga

Acropyga ayanganna

Acropyga donisthorpei

Acropyga panamensis

Acropyga guianensis

Acropyga stenotes

Acropyga fuhrmanni

Acropyga smithii

Acropyga romeo

Acropyga hirsutula

Acropyga dubitata

Acropyga decedens, Acropyga goeldii

Acropyga epedana

Acropyga arnoldi

Acropyga silvestrii

Acropyga kinomurai

Acropyga lauta

Acropyga sauteri

Acropyga acutiventris

Acropyga myops

Acropyga butteli

Acropyga ambigua

Acropyga pallida

Based on Blaimer et al., 2016. Note only selected Acropyga species are included, and undescribed species are excluded.

Nomenclature

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

  • smithii. Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) smithii Forel, 1893g: 349 (q.) ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES (St Vincent I.).
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 132; Emery, 1925b: 30; Wheeler, W.M. 1935f: 328; Donisthorpe, 1936b: 110 (in list); Weber, 1944: 95 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 18; Bolton, 1995b: 58; LaPolla, 2004a: 43 (redescription); Branstetter & Sáenz, 2012: 255; Fernández & Ortiz-Sepúlveda, 2019: 732.
    • Senior synonym of kathrynae: LaPolla, 2004a: 43.
    • Senior synonym of urichi: LaPolla, 2004a: 43.
  • kathrynae. Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) kathrynae Weber, 1944: 114, fig. 12 (w.) TRINIDAD.
    • Status as species: Kempf, 1972a: 17; Bolton, 1995b: 57.
    • Junior synonym of smithii: LaPolla, 2004a: 43.
  • urichi. Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) urichi Weber, 1944: 115, figs. 2,3 (w.q.m.) TRINIDAD.
    • Status as species: Kempf, 1972a: 18; Bolton, 1995b: 58.
    • Junior synonym of smithii: LaPolla, 2004a: 43.

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

Description

Worker

LaPolla (2004) - (n=13): TL: 1.23-1.62; HW: 0.316-0.364; HL: 0.36-0.408; SL: 0.192-0.251; ML: 0.354-0.449; GL: 0.492-0.764; CI: 81.86-97.2; SI: 58.02-69.76.

Head: yellow; covered in a layer of thick layer of appressed hairs; head distinctly longer than broad; posterior margin entire; 7-8 segmented, distinctly incrassate antennae; scape fails to reach posterior margin by about the length of the first two funicular segments; clypeus with abundant erect to suberect hairs; mandibles narrow with 4 distinct teeth; gap exists between inner mandibular margin and anterior clypeal margin. Mesosoma: pronotum rises gently from margin toward mesonotum; mesosomal dorsum flat; mesonotum and propodeum at about the same level; abundant suberect to erect hairs on mesonotum; metanotal area distinct; propodeum distinct; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole thick and erect, well below level of propodeum; gaster yellow; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with scattered erect hairs throughout.

Queen

From LaPolla (2004) - (n=2): TL: 2.07-2.24; HW: 0.395-0.408; HL: 0.427-0.449; SL: 0.256-0.281; ML: 0.627-0.634; GL: 1.02-1.16; CI: 90.87-92.51; SI: 64.81-68.87. As in worker with modifications expected for caste.

Male

LaPolla (2004) - (n=2): TL: 1.5; HW: 0.275-0.287; HL: 0.313-0.324; SL: 0.208-0.21; ML: 0.474-0.51; GL: 0.65; CI: 87.86-88.58; SI: 73.17-75.64

Head: brownish-yellow, darker around 3 prominent ocelli; head longer than broad; covered in layer of short appressed hairs with scattered, longer hairs, especially along sides: 9 segmented, slightly incrassate antennae, with apical segment about as long as three preceding segments; scape fails posterior margin by about length of pedicel; posterior margin entire; clypeus medially convex with many long erect hairs on surface; mandible narrow with 2 teeth, a small tooth at basal angle and a long apical tooth; apical tooth separated from basal tooth by a wide, smooth diastema; a slight gap exists between inner mandibular margin and outer clypeal margin. Mesosoma: light yellow; pronotum narrow and collar-like with only a few erect; pronotum overarched by mesonotum; mesonotum rounded anteriorly and covered in a layer of appressed hairs, occasionally with a few erect hairs; propodeum rounded; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole thick and erect; gaster yellow; covered in a layer of appressed hairs with scattered erect hairs throughout. Genitalia: in lateral view, parameres taper to rounded apices; posterior portion of parameres with many long erect hairs; cuspi short, round and each tapering to an apical point; digiti flat and anvil-shaped apically; cuspi meet digiti dorsally.

Type Material

Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) smithii Forel, 1893: 349 (q.). Holotype queen, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: St. Vincent, elev. 457.2 m, (H.H. Smith) (The Natural History Museum) [examined]. The holotype queen is labeled JSL TYPE #101.

Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) kathrynae Weber, 1944: 114 (w.). 4 syntype workers, TRINIDAD: Maracas Valley. B.W.I. (N.A. Weber) (Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined]. NEW SYNONYM.

Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) urichi Weber, 1944: 115 (w.q.m.). 2 syntype workers, 1 syntype queen, 1 syntype male, TRINIDAD: Maracas Valley. B.W.I. (N.A. Weber) (MCZC) [examined]. NEW SYNONYM.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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