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Carebara minuta
| Carebara minuta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Carebara |
| Species: | C. minuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Carebara minuta Fernández, 2004 | |
This species, with body length from 0.99 to 1.00 mm, may be the smallest in the Western Hemisphere.
Identification
Fernández (2004) - A member of the Carebara lignata species complex. Very close to Carebara globularia with which it shares postpetiolar and clypeal configuration and frontal triangle. C. minuta is smaller, the clypeal apron shorter and the head pilosity less dense. The specimens have the label “C. mayri”, but I can’t find any positive proof that both workers belong to this species, otherwise known only from males. Two males labeled as “C. mayri” in MZSP (and a few others without names) came from other sites in Brazil, but there is no local association between these workers and C. mayri males. As a result, C. minuta may actually be workers of mayri, or workers from any other Neotropical Carebara described solely on the basis of females or males. Only the collection of nest series with all castes will clarify the picture.
Distribution
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. |
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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.
- minuta. Carebara minuta Fernández, 2004a: 217, fig. 14 (w) BRAZIL (Mato Grosso).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
- Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Mato Grosso, Utiariti, Rio Papagaio, 10.xi.1966, no. 4489 (K. Lenko & Pereira); paratype with same data.
- Type-depository: MZSP.
- Distribution: Brazil.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype (Paratype): HW 0.23 (0.21); HL 0.30 (0.31); SL 0.16 (0.15); PW 0.15 (0.15); WL 0.27 (0.28); GL 0.25 (0.24); TL 0.99 (1.00); CI 75 (70); SI 69 (71).
Head slightly longer than wide. Posterior border concave, lateral sides faintly concave. Mandibles with 4 teeth. Median portion of clypeus slightly concave. In frontal oblique view, clypeal lateral carinae strongly narrowed posteriorly and between frontal lobes, then continued as frontal triangle. Scapes fail to reach the vertexal border in ½ of the head length. In side view, alitrunk slightly convex, interrupted by the deep metanotal groove. Propodeum with feeble angulation between dorsal and sloping faces. Propodeal spiracle relatively large, circular, high and very close to the propodeal margin. Bullae of metapleural gland relatively large in size. Propodeal lobes reduced to narrow lamellae that reach the propodeal dorsum. Petiole with short peduncle, evenly continuous with the dorsal rounded node; petiolar node midway along petiolar length. Subpetiolar process produced as strong spine directed forward, spine normally not visible in mounted specimens. Postpetiole dorsally concave, lower than petiole. In dorsal view petiole longer than wide, postpetiole subglobose, wider posteriorly and notably wider and longer than petiole. In dorsal view anterior margin of first tergum slightly concave. Body smooth and shining. Mandibles with several scattered punctures, head with scattered puncturations (except in the central longitudinal area), each punctum with a small hair. Anterior sides of head with very fine longitudinal striation. Sides of alitrunk (except pronotum), petiole, postpetiole and dorsum of petiolar peduncle with a faint to moderate reticulation. Short curved hairs (less than 0.017 mm) relatively abundant over body, especially on dorsum of head. Medium hairs (about 0.033 mm): Six to eight on promesonotum, two on propodeum, about four on petiole and four on postpetiole, several on gaster. Longer hairs (more than 0.040 mm): Four arising from anterior clypeal margin extending forward over most of mandible length. Two in each side of head, near the occipital border. Yellowish brown.
Type Material
Holotype worker. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Utiariti, Rio Papagaio, 10 nov 1966, K. Lenko & Pereira No. 4489, deposited in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo. Paratype, same data as type, MZSP.
References
- Fernández, F. 2004a. The American species of the myrmicine ant genus Carebara Westwood (Hymentoptera: Formicidae). Caldasia. 26(1):191-238. (page 217, fig. 14 worker described)
- Fernandez, F., Guerrero, R.J., Sánchez-Restrepo, A.F. 2021. Sistemática y diversidad de las hormigas neotropicales. Revista Colombiana de Entomología 47, 1–20 (doi:10.25100/socolen.v47i1.11082).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Alonso L. E., J. Persaud, and A. Williams. 2016. Biodiversity assessment survey of the south Rupununi Savannah, Guyana. BAT Survey Report No.1, 306 pages.
- Fernández F. 2004. The American species of the myrmicine ant genus Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Caldasia 26: 191-238.
- Ulyssea M. A., C. R. F. Brandao. 2013. Catalogue of Dacetini and Solenopsidini ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papies Avulsos de Zoologia 53(14): 187-209.