Crematogaster inflata

Crematogaster inflata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Crematogaster
Species:	C. inflata
Binomial name
Crematogaster inflata Smith, F., 1857 Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Crematogaster moorei Donisthorpe, 1941

Specimens from Sabah were collected from secondary wet forest, in carton on a tree trunk, and from rainforest, on low vegetation.

Photo Gallery

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  Crematogaster inflata worker from Mersing, Johor, Malaysia. Photo by Farhan Bokhari.
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  A Crematogaster inflata worker beside the gaster of a much larger Polyrhachis (Mersing, Johor, Malaysia). Photo by Farhan Bokhari.
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  Crematogaster inflata workers attacking Polyrhachis workers (Mersing, Johor, Malaysia). Photo by Farhan Bokhari.

Identification

A member of the Crematogaster inflata species-group. Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - The bicolored pattern of yellow and red-brown is distinctive and unique to this species. This coloration is possibly a model in Batesian mimicry with other arthropods (Maruyama et al. 2003; Ito et al., 2004).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Crematogaster Physocrema species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore (type locality).
Oriental Region: India, Thailand.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Castes

• Images provided by Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology
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Hosoishi and Kazuo 2015. Figs 12 – 15. Petiole in dorsal view. 12, Crematogaster osakensis; 13, Crematogaster teranishii; 14, Crematogaster inflata; 15, Crematogaster fraxatrix.

Nomenclature

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

• inflata. Crematogaster inflatus Smith, F. 1857a: 76, pl. 2, fig. 2 (w.) SINGAPORE. Santschi, 1928h: 128 (q.). Combination in C. (Physocrema): Forel, 1912f: 220. Senior synonym of moorei: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23.
• moorei. Crematogaster (Physocrema) moorei Donisthorpe, 1941l: 225 (w.) PHILIPPINES. Junior synonym of inflata: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23.

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

Description

Worker

Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - 0.86–1.08; HL 0.85–1.05; CI 101–103; SL 0.85–0.96; SI 89–98; EL 0.20–0.22; PW 0.61–0.66; WL 1.18–1.34; PSL 0; PtL 0.32–0.38; PtW 0.23–0.27; PtH 0.16–0.19; PpL 0.18–0.20; PpW 0.24–0.30; PtHI 46–50; PtWI 67–71; PpWI 139–147; WI 106–110 (Three workers measured).

Workers polymorphic in size.

Scape exceeding posterior corner of head even for large workers.

In lateral view, pronotum convex; mesonotum and propodeum forming a single convexity. Anterior margin of pronotal collar distinctly concave in dorsal view. Metanotal groove slightly convex in dorsal median portion, not so deep and situated almost in the same line with the posterior ridge of pronotum in lateral view; thorax not strongly constricted in middle in dorsal view. In dorsal view, no longitudinal rugulae connecting between mesonotum and propodeum; the boundary distinct except for median portion. Propodeal spiracle situated near the metapleural gland orifice, the distance between them about the same as the propodeal spiracle diameter. Propodeal spines absent.

Clypeus smooth and shining without longitudinal rugulae. Integument smooth and shining.

Standing pilosity sparse, some pairs on dorsal face of head and dorsal portion of mesonotum. Dorsal face of head with appressed setae. Clypeus with abundant short and long setae. Fourth abdominal tergite with abundant appressed setae.

Body bicolored with head, promesonotum, petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs red-brown and with metanotal and propodeal area yellow.

Type Material

Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - LECTOTYPE worker from SINGAPORE (left Oxford University Museum of Natural History worker of TYPE HYM: 1016 3-4 / 5) (by present designation) and four paralectotype workers: one paralectotype worker from SINGAPORE (Oxford University Museum of Natural History) and three paralectotype workers from MALAYSIA: Sarawak, Borneo (The Natural History Museum) [examined].

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

Crematogaster inflatus

Five worker syntypes in Oxford University Museum of Natural History, 3 worker syntypes in The Natural History Museum. Labelled “Sar.” “Sar. 9.” and “Sing. 27.” Sarawak and Singapore are both recorded by Smith.

References

• Badejo, O., Skaldina, O., Gilev, A., Sorvari, J. 2020. Benefits of insect colours: a review from social insect studies. Oecologia. (doi:10.1007/s00442-020-04738-1).
• Forel, A. 1912g. Formicides néotropiques. Part III. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae (suite). Genres Cremastogaster et Pheidole. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 19: 211-237 (page 220, Combination in C. (Physocrema))
• Hosoishi, S. & Ogata, K. 2009b. A taxonomic revision of the Asian endemic subgenus Physocrema of the genus Crematogaster. Zootaxa 2062: 15-36.
• Liu, C., Fischer, G., Hita Garcia, F., Yamane, S., Liu, Q., Peng, Y.Q., Economo, E.P., Guénard, B., Pierce, N.E. 2020. Ants of the Hengduan Mountains: a new altitudinal survey and updated checklist for Yunnan Province highlight an understudied insect biodiversity hotspot. ZooKeys 978, 1–171 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.978.55767).
• Santschi, F. 1928h. Fourmis de Sumatra, récoltées par Mr. J. B. Corporaal. Tijdschr. Entomol. 71: 119-140 (page 128, queen described)
• Smith, F. 1857a. Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by A. R. Wallace. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 2: 42-88 (page 76, pl. 2, fig. 2 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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• Donisthorpe H. 1941. Description of a new species of Crematogaster Lund, subgenus Physocrema Forel, with a list of, and a key to, the known species of the subgenus. Entomologist 74: 225-227.
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• Hosoishi S. and K. Ogata. 2009. A check list of the ant genus Crematogaster in Asia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Inst. Trop. Agr. Kyushu Univ. 32: 43-83.
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• Hosoishi S.; and K. Ogata. 2009. The ant genus Crematogaster Lund, subgenus Physocrema Forel, in the Indochinese Peninsula. Asian Myrmecology 2 (2008): 1-10.
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• Robson Simon Ant Collection, 05-Sept-2014
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• Suriyapong Y. 2003. Study of ground dwelling ant populations and relationship to some ecological factors in Sakaerat environmental research station, Nakhon Ratchasima. PhD thesis Suranaree University of Technology 203 pages.
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