Dinoponera grandis

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Dinoponera grandis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Dinoponera
Species: D. grandis
Binomial name
Dinoponera grandis
Guérin-Méneville, 1838

Dinoponera australis casent0173381 profile 1.jpg

Dinoponera australis casent0173381 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

This species has the smallest colonies (average of 14 workers) in the genus. Reproduction via gamergates, with the complete loss of the queen caste.

At a Glance • Gamergate  

Photo Gallery

  • Dinoponera australis worker, photo by Guilherme Ide.

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Dias and Lattke (2021) - Dinoponera grandis is a widely distributed species, occurring in most of the Central West, South and Southeast regions of Brazil as well as Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. The northernmost record is in Paranã (Tocantins) and the southernmost Brazilian record is in Uruguaiana (Rio Grande do Sul). These ants are not present in eastern Brazil.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.68015° to -30.624°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (type locality), Paraguay (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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

Hanisch et al. (2023) - abstract: Social organisms benefit from division of labour and collective behaviours. However, if individuals overlap widely in their efforts, these benefits may not be proportional to the number of individuals that take part in an activity. We examined foraging behaviour and route fidelity in colonies of the ant Dinoponera grandis (formerly Dinoponera australis), a large species with relatively few active foragers that lack nestmate recruitment and chemical trailing behaviour. For 12 colonies, we marked individual foragers and mapped their foraging routes to test the hypothesis that each ant specializes in a particular area around the nest and that this route fidelity increases the overall area covered by the colony. For each individual, we recorded the mean direction and duration of each foraging trip, foraging success and maximal distance from the nest. For each colony, we measured the number of workers and the total foraging area. Additionally, we measured Shannon's entropy to describe foraging behaviour structure of the colonies. Overall, we mapped 272 foraging routes from 95 different foragers. The total area used by each colony averaged 66.2m2. Within colonies, over 68% of foragers exhibited a high degree of route fidelity, with most foragers following different foraging directions. Most colonies had a high Shannon's entropy, suggesting an even exploration of the foraging territory. Our results suggest that D. grandis exhibit route fidelity and high entropy. This strategy likely increases foraging efficiency and search area and may be particularly important for species with relatively few foragers.

=> Worker of Dinoponera grandis and Camponotus vagus (you tube video)

Association with Other Organisms

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  • This species is a host for the phorid fly Apocephalus sp. (a parasite) (Brown et al., 2015) (injured).

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 30 (Fowler, 1985; Beckers et al., 1989)
  • Foraging behaviour: solitary forager (Fowler, 1985; Beckers et al., 1989)

Castes

LDM Dino 04.jpgLDM Dino 05.jpgLDM Dino 09.jpgLDM Dino 10.jpgLDM Dino 11.jpg
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Nomenclature

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

  • grandis. Ponera grandis Guérin-Méneville, 1838: 206 (w.) BRAZIL (Minas Gerais).
    • Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
    • [Note (i): no indication of number of specimens is given. Note (ii): Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22, imply that a lectotype was designated by Diller, 1990: 70, but this designation refers only to gigantea Perty, not to grandis Guérin-Méneville.]
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Minas Gerais (“dans la province des Mines”).
    • Type-depository: MNHN.
    • Emery, 1911a: 220 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986a: 387 (l.).
    • Combination in Dinoponera: Roger, 1861a: 38.
    • Synonym of gigantea: Roger, 1861a: 38; Mayr, 1863: 407; Roger, 1863b: 19; Dalla Torre, 1893: 31; Forel, 1895b: 113; Emery, 1911d: 63; Borgmeier, 1923: 63.
    • [Note: these authors all gave grandis as senior synonym, but gigantea would have priority.]
    • Junior synonym of gigantea: Borgmeier, 1937b: 225; Kempf, 1971: 371; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 139.
    • Status as species: Smith, F. 1858b: 95; Roger, 1861a: 38; Mayr, 1862: 730; Mayr, 1863: 407; Roger, 1863b: 19; Dalla Torre, 1893: 31; von Jhering, 1894: 380; Forel, 1895b: 113; Emery, 1896h: 625; Emery, 1901a: 47; Forel, 1904b: 369; Forel, 1908e: 64; Emery, 1911d: 63; Mann, 1916: 408; Luederwaldt, 1918: 35; Borgmeier, 1923: 63; Santschi, 1939f: 160; Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22 (redescription).
    • Senior synonym of australis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
    • Senior synonym of brevis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
    • Senior synonym of bucki: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
    • Senior synonym of nigricolor: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
    • Senior synonym of snellingi: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
    • Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay.
  • australis. Dinoponera grandis subsp. australis Emery, 1901a: 48 (w.) BRAZIL (São Paulo), ARGENTINA (Misiones), PARAGUAY.
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Borgmeier, 1937b: 227 (in text)).
    • Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: São Paulo, Avanhandava (no collector’s name) (by restriction of Borgmeier, 1937b: 227).
    • [Note: Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135, record 5 syntypes from the type-locality; other original syntypes are from Argentina: Misiones, 1881 (Berg), Misiones, Giabibiri, iii.1884 (G. Bove), and Paraguay: Rio Apa (Balzan).]
    • Type-depositories: MZSP (lectotype); MSNG (paralectotypes).
    • Santschi, 1921g: 85 (m.); Borgmeier, 1937b: 228 (q.).
    • Subspecies of grandis: Forel, 1907e: 1; Forel, 1909a: 266; Emery, 1911d: 63; Santschi, 1912e: 521; Bruch, 1914: 214; Gallardo, 1918b: 51 (redscription); Santschi, 1921g: 85; Borgmeier, 1923: 63; Santschi, 1929a: 416.
    • Status as species: Borgmeier, 1937b: 227; Kempf, 1971: 382 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 96; Zolessi, et al. 1988: 2; Brandão, 1991: 340; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Wild, 2007b: 39; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135 (redescription); Feitosa, 2015c: 98; Guénard & Economo, 2015: 228; Escárraga, et al. 2017: 134 (in key).
    • Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
  • brevis. Dinoponera australis var. brevis Borgmeier, 1937b: 227.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Paraguay: (no further data) (Reichensperger).
    • Type-depository: NHMB.
    • [First available use of Dinoponera grandis subsp. australis var. brevis Santschi, 1929a: 416 (w.) PARAGUAY; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
    • Junior synonym of australis: Kempf, 1971: 382; Kempf, 1972a: 96; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
    • Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
  • bucki. Dinoponera australis subsp. bucki Borgmeier, 1937b: 228, figs. 7, 9 (w.m.) BRAZIL (Rio Grande do Sul).
    • Type-material: lectotype male (by designation of Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 23), 2 paralectotype workers.
    • Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul, Palmeira das Missões, 27.i.1929, no. 4.826 (P. Buck); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: MZSP.
    • Subspecies of australis: Kempf, 1971: 386; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
    • Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
  • nigricolor. Dinoponera australis subsp. nigricolor Borgmeier, 1937b: 228, figs. 5, 6, 8 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (Goiás).
    • Type-material: lectotype male (by designation of Kempf, 1971: 387), 6+ paralectotype workers, 1 paralectotype “ergatoid queen”.
    • [Note: Kempf, 1971: 387, points out that the “ergatoid queen” is in fact a mermithergate.]
    • Type-locality: lectotype Brazil: Goyaz (= Goiás), Campinas, 5.v.1933, at light (P.J.S. Schwarzmaier); paralectotypes: 6 workers, 1 “ergatoid” Brazil: Goyaz (= Goiás), Campinas, 6.ii.1936 (R. Spitz), and “several workers from the same locality (Campinas), taken at different times” (P.J.S. Schwarzmaier).]
    • Type-depository: MZSP.
    • Subspecies of australis: Kempf, 1971: 387; Kempf, 1972a: 97; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Lenhart, et al. 2013: 135.
    • Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.
  • snellingi. Dinoponera snellingi Lenhart, et al. 2013: 152, figs. 4D, 4I, 4N, 5B, 7, 9B, 10B, 11B, 13 (m.) BRAZIL (Mato Grosso do Sul).
    • Type-material: holotype male, 2 paratype males.
    • Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, 12.x.1989, #12404 (W.P. Mackay); paratypes with same data but 8.x.1989, #12359.
    • Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); MCZC, WEMC (paratypes).
    • Status as species: Feitosa, 2015c: 98; Escárraga, et al. 2017: 134 (in key).
    • Junior synonym of grandis: Dias, A.M. & Lattke, 2021: 22.

Type Material

Taxonomic Notes

Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera australis bucki - The male coloration difference is the basis for the designation of the subspecies D. australis bucki and D. a. nigricolor. These may be separate species or the product of intra-specific variation, but this cannot be diagnosed here as the types designated by Borgmeier (1937) were not available to us and the extent of intra-specific variation could not be determined from the limited sample size available.

Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera australis nigricolor - The male coloration difference is the basis for the designation of the subspecies D. australis bucki and D. a. nigricolor. These may be separate species or the product of intra-specific variation, but this cannot be diagnosed here as the types designated by Borgmeier (1937) were not available to us and the extent of intra-specific variation could not be determined from the limited sample size available.

Lenhart et al. (2013), discussing Dinoponera snellingi - Male. Specimens of this species are distinct in several respects. The combination of a bicolored body and head possessing bulging compound eyes and ocelli is unique to this species. More definitive is the shape of the aedeagus which possesses a large ventral lobe and finger-like serrated flange. The short broad digitus volsellaris with finely toothed basal lobe is distinctive, as well as the paramere shape.

Description

Karyotype

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  • n = 57, 2n = 114 (Brazil) (Santos et al., 2012; Mariano et al., 2015) (as Dinoponera australis).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Billen J. P. J., C. R. F. Brandão, and R. V. S. Paiva. 1995. Morphology and ultrastructure of the pygidial gland of the ant Dinoponera australis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 39: 209-216.
  • Borgmeier T. 1923. Catalogo systematico e synonymico das formigas do Brasil. 1 parte. Subfam. Dorylinae, Cerapachyinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae. Archivos do Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) 24: 33-103.
  • Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
  • Bruch C. 1914. Catálogo sistemático de los formícidos argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata 19: 211-234.
  • Caldart V. M., S. Iop, J. A. Lutinski, and F. R. Mello Garcia. 2012. Ants diversity (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the urban perimeter of Chapecó county, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoociências 14 (1, 2, 3): 81-94.
  • Christianini A. V., A. J. Mayhé-Nunes, and P. S. Oliveira. 2012. Exploitation of Fallen Diaspores By Ants: Are There Ant-Plant Partner Choices? Biotropica 44: 360-367.
  • Christianini A. V., and P. S. Oliveira. 2013. Edge effects decrease ant-derived benefits to seedlings in a neotropical savanna. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 7: 191-199.
  • Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
  • Emery C. 1901. Notes sur les sous-familles des Dorylines et Ponérines (Famille des Formicides). Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 45: 32-54.
  • Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
  • Favretto M. A., E. Bortolon dos Santos, and C. J. Geuster. 2013. Entomofauna from West of Santa Catarina State, South of Brazil. EntomoBrasilis 6 (1): 42-63.
  • Fernández F., and T. M. Arias-Penna. 2008. Las hormigas cazadoras en la región Neotropical. Pp. 3-39 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
  • Gallardo A. 1918. Las hormigas de la República Argentina. Subfamilia Ponerinas. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Buenos Aires 30: 1-112.
  • Ilha C., J. A. Lutinski, D. Von Muller Pereira, F. R. Mello Garcia. 2009. Riqueza de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de Bacia da Sanga Caramuru, municipio de Chapeco-SC. Biotemas 22(4): 95-105.
  • Kempf W. W. 1971. A preliminary review of the ponerine ant genus Dinoponera Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 14: 369-394.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Kusnezov N. 1956. Claves para la identificación de las hormigas de la fauna argentina. Idia 104-105: 1-56.
  • Lenhart, P. A.; Dash, S. T.; and Mackay, W. P. 2013. A revision of the giant Amazonian ants of the genus Dinoponera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 119-164
  • Lutinski J. A., B. C. Lopes, and A. B. B.de Morais. 2013. Diversidade de formigas urbanas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de dez cidades do sul do Brasil. Biota Neotrop. 13(3): 332-342.
  • Lutinski J. A., F. R. Mello Garcia, C. J. Lutinska, and S. Iop. 2008. Ants diversity in Floresta Nacional de Chapecó in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Ciência Rural, Santa Maria 38(7): 1810-1816.
  • Maravalhas J., and H. L. Vasconcelos. 2014. Revisiting the pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis: long-term fire regimes and the structure of ant communities in a Neotropical savanna hotspot. Journal of Applied Ecology 51: 1661-1668.
  • Monnin, R., F.L.W. Ratnieks and C.R.F. Brandao. 2003. Reproductive Conflict in Animal Societies: Hierarchy Length Increases with Colony Size in Queenless Ponerine Ants. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 54(1):71-79
  • Paiva R. V. S., and C. R. F. Brandão. 1995. Nests, worker population, and reproductive status of workers, in the giant queenless ponerine ant Dinoponera Roger (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Ethology Ecology and Evolution 7:297-312.
  • Ribas C. R., J. H. Schoereder, M. Pic, and S. M. Soares. 2003. Tree heterogeneity, resource availability, and larger scale processes regulating arboreal ant species richness. Austral Ecology 28(3): 305-314.
  • Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.
  • Santoandre S., J. Filloy, G. A. Zurita, and M. I. Bellocq. 2019. Ant taxonomic and functional diversity show differential response to plantation age in two contrasting biomes. Forest Ecology and Management 437: 304-313.
  • Santos I. S., J. H. C. Delabie, J. G. Silva, M. A. Costa, L. A. C. Barros, S. G. Pompolo, and C. S. F. Mariano. 2012. Karyotype differentiation among four Dinoponera (Formicidae: Ponerinae) species. Florida Entomologist 95(3): 737-742.
  • Santschi F. 1912. Quelques fourmis de l'Amérique australe. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 20: 519-534.
  • Santschi F. 1921. Ponerinae, Dorylinae et quelques autres formicides néotropiques. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 54: 81-103.
  • Santschi F. 1929. Sur quelques nouvelles fourmis du Brésil (Hym. Form.). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1928: 414-416.
  • Ulyssea M.A., C. E. Cereto, F. B. Rosumek, R. R. Silva, and B. C. Lopes. 2011. Updated list of ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) recorded in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, with a discussion of research advances and priorities. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 55(4): 603-–611.
  • Vittar, F. 2008. Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mesopotamia Argentina. INSUGEO Miscelania 17(2):447-466
  • Wild, A. L.. "A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1622 (2007): 1-55.
  • Zolessi L. C. de, Y. P. Abenante, and M. E. de Philippi. 1988. Lista sistematica de las especies de Formicidos del Uruguay. Comun. Zool. Mus. Hist. Nat. Montev. 11: 1-9.
  • Zolessi L. C. de; Y. P. de Abenante, and M. E. Philippi. 1989. Catálogo sistemático de las especies de Formícidos del Uruguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Montevideo: ORCYT Unesco, 40 + ix pp.
  • da Silva, R.R., C.R.F. Brandao, and R. Silvestre. 2004. Similarity Between Cerrado Localities in Central and Southeastern Brazil Based on the Dry Season Bait Visitors Ant Fauna. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 39(3):191-199.
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