Leptanilla

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Leptanilla
Leptanilla revelierii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Leptanillinae
Tribe: Leptanillini
Genus: Leptanilla
Emery, 1870
Type species
Leptanilla revelierii
Diversity
63 species
(Species Checklist, Species by Country)

Leptanilla revelierii casent0006788 profile 1.jpg

Leptanilla revelierii

Leptanilla revelierii casent0006788 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - The more than 40 species of Leptanilla (Bolton, 2012) are largely distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics (Baroni Urbani, 1977; Bolton, 1990; Lopez et al., 1994). Baroni Urbani (1977) revised the genus on a global basis but today there are numerous undescribed species. Sampling methods that specifically target hypogaeic insects (Normand, 1911; Lopez et al., 1994) are also likely to discover more species of these cryptic ants. The members of this genus are all very small, pale, subterranean ants that are rarely collected, especially both worker and queen castes. Leptanilla species nest and forage in the ground, and seem to be specialised predators of geophilomorph centipedes (Masuko, 1990). Additionally, the queens of some species are known to feed on their larvae, but unlike amblyoponine queens they do not damage the larval integument. Instead the larvae possess a specialised duct organ on the fourth abdominal segment from which the queens can gain the larval haemolymph (Bolton, 1990; Masuko, 1990). Leptanilla displays several behavioural similarities to army ants since all known queens are dichthadiiform, several species are known to be migratory, and foraging is performed in groups.

At a Glance • Ergatoid queen  

Photo Gallery

  • Leptanilla nest found in soil under a log, Kerala, India. Photo by Kalesh Sadasivan.
  • Leptanilla queen from nest found in soil under a log, Kerala, India. Note that queens have only a petiole and are lacking the postpetiole found in workers. Photo by Kalesh Sadasivan.
  • Leptanilla workers from nest found in soil under a log, Kerala, India. Note that workers have both a petiole and postpetiole. Photo by Kalesh Sadasivan.
  • Leptanilla queen from nest found in soil under a log, Kerala, India. Note that queens have only a petiole and are lacking the postpetiole found in workers. Photo by Kalesh Sadasivan.

Identification

Workers of Leptanilla are minute and pale, a reflection of their subterranean life-history. Many species are known only from males. Queens and males have a petiole, while workers have a petiole and postpetiole. Zu (2002) provided a key to the genera of the Letpanillinae. The set of characters that separate this genus from the other genera in the subfamily with workers (two genera are only known from males): Mandibles subtriangular, masticatory margins shorter than or subequal to inner margins, the former with 3-5 teeth. Antennal insertions very close to the anterior margin of the head. Body very slender.

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Keys including this Genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

  • Griebenow (2024), Figure 28. Geographical range of the Leptanilla thai species group (orange) and the Leptanilla havilandi species group (blue). The Pattani-Kangar Line is indicated in black. Locality information derived from AntWeb and available literature, visualized with SimpleMappr.
  • Griebenow (2024), Figure 30. Geographical range of the Leptanilla bethyloides species group (pink) and the Leptanilla najaphalla species group (blue). Pattani-Kangar Line indicated in black. Locality information derived from AntWeb and visualized with SimpleMappr.
  • Griebenow (2024), Figure 32. Geographical range of the Leptanilla revelierii species group in the Western Palaearctic and Afrotropics. Locality information derived from AntWeb and available literature, visualized with SimpleMappr.
  • Griebenow (2024), Figure 33. Geographical range of the Leptanilla revelierii species group (yellow) and Leptanilla palauensis (black) in the Eastern Palaearctic, Indo-Malaya, and Australasia. Locality information derived from AntWeb and available literature, visualized with SimpleMappr.

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 6 2 15 0 0 0 9 36
Total Species 2841 1736 3045 932 835 4379 1741 2862

Biology

Vietnam (Eguchi et al 2014) - Leptanilla spp. inhabit woodland habitats including well-developed forests and forest edges, and lowland and montane forests. Their nests are found under stones and wood fragments. Small dead centipedes being eaten by many larvae are sometimes found inside a nest chamber. Leptanilla spp. are rare in Vietnam, but Leptanilla sp. eg-1 is relatively frequently found in montane forests at the foot of Mt. Fan Si Pan (Sa Pa, Lao Cai).

Wong and McRae (2024) - All known Leptanilla species are hypogaeic, living in small colonies that nest and forage exclusively underground.

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: 150 (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: predator (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent-gradual • Eyes: 0-1 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Phylogeny

Leptanillinae
Opamyrmini

Opamyrma  (1 species, 0 fossil species)

Leptanillini

Leptanilla  (63 species, 0 fossil species)

Protanilla  (18 species, 0 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Leptanillinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • LEPTANILLA [Leptanillinae: Leptanillini]
    • Leptanilla Emery, 1870: 196. Type-species: Leptanilla revelierii, by monotypy.
    • Leptanilla senior synonym of Leptomesites: Baroni Urbani, 1977c: 433.
  • Leptomesites Kutter, 1948: 286. Type-species: Leptomesites escheri, by original designation.
    • Leptomesites junior synonym of Leptanilla: Baroni Urbani, 1977c: 433; Griebenow, 2024: 128.
  • Noonilla Petersen, 1968: 582. Type-species: Noonilla copiosa, by original designation.
    • Noonilla incertae sedis in Formicidae: Ogata, Terayama & Masuko, 1995: 33.
    • Noonilla in Leptanillinae: Boudinot, 2015: 32.
    • Noonilla as junior synonym of Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2024: 128.
  • Phaulomyrma Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, E.W. 1930: 193. Type-species: Phaulomyrma javana Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, E.W. 1930: 193, by original designation.
    • Phaulomyrma in Leptanillinae, Leptanillini: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, E.W. 1930: 201; Donisthorpe, 1943f: 683; Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 79; Bolton, 1990b: 277; Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 12; Bolton, 1994: 70; Bolton, 1995b: 42; Bolton, 2003: 40; 152.
    • Phaulomyrma as genus: all authors.
    • Phaulomyrma catalogues: Bolton, 1995b: 316.
    • Phaulomyrma references: Petersen, 1968: 593 (review of genus); Baroni Urbani, 1977c: 480 (review of genus); Ogata, et al. 1995: 32 (review of genus).
    • Phaulomyrma as junior synonym of Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2021: 630; Griebenow, 2024: 128.
  • Scyphodon Brues, 1925: 93. Type-species: Scyphodon anomalum, by original designation.
    • Scyphodon in Leptanillinae: Petersen, 1968: 591; Baroni Urbani, 1977c: 482; Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 79; Bolton, 1990b: 277; Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 12; Bolton, 1994: 70.
    • Scyphodon incertae sedis in Formicidae: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1985: 259.
    • Scyphodon excluded from Formicidae, incertae sedis in Aculeata: Ogata, Terayama & Masuko, 1995: 33.
    • Scyphodon in Leptanillinae: Boudinot, 2015: 32.
    • Scyphodon as junior synonym of Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2024: 128.
  • Yavnella Kugler, J. 1987: 52. Type-species: Yavnella argamani, by original designation.
    • Yavnella as junior synonym of Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2024: 128.

Taxonomic history

  • Phaulomyrma in Leptanillinae, Leptanillini: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, E.W. 1930: 201; Donisthorpe, 1943f: 683; Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 79; Bolton, 1990b: 277; Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 12; Bolton, 1994: 70; Bolton, 1995b: 42; Bolton, 2003: 40; 152.
  • Phaulomyrma as genus: all authors.
  • Phaulomyrma catalogues: Bolton, 1995b: 316.
  • Phaulomyrma references: Petersen, 1968: 593 (review of genus); Baroni Urbani, 1977c: 480 (review of genus); Ogata, et al. 1995: 32 (review of genus).
  • Phaulomyrma as junior synonym of Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2021: 630.

Description

Male

Ogata et al. (1995): Figures 24-29. Leptanilla sp. 2. male genitalia (Ushikumori. lriomote Is .. Ryukvus. Japan). 24. dorsal: 25. ventral: 26. lateral: 27. Left paramere. inner lateral: 28. right paramere and aedeagal plate. inner lateral: 29. basal ring and hypopygium. ventral. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Ogata et. al. (1995):

  1. Head longer than broad, with subparallel sides and rounded posterior corners.
  2. Eyes medium in size, situated anteriorly.
  3. Mandibles reduced, forming non-opposable lobes.
  4. Palp formula 1,1.
  5. Antennal insertions close to anterior margin of cranium.
  6. Antennal insertions exposed; antennae with l3 segments.
  7. Pronotum elongate with concave posterolateral portion.
  8. Mesoscutum long and narrow, not overhanging pronotum, with arched dorsal surface.
  9. Notauli absent on mesoscutum.
  10. Mesoscutellum less raised, not overhanging metanotum.
  11. Forewing lacking pterostigma and with poor venation (Sc + R + Rs).
  12. Hindwing narrow, lacking any veins.
  13. Middle tibia with one small apical spur; hind tibia with two small apical spurs.
  14. Metapleural gland absent.
  15. Propodeum cylindrical, with arched dorsal surface.
  16. Petiole isolated, subglobous without anterior peduncle.
  17. Third abdominal segment not forming postpetiole.
  18. Cerci absent.
  19. Hypopygium small and broad, sometimes bifurcate posteriorly.
  20. Basal ring small, thin, weakly sclerotized.
  21. Digitus simple and elongate.
  22. Apical portion of parameres thin, flattened, dorsally protruding, sometimes armed with small teeth.
  23. Aedeagal plates flattened, often broad, without serrate ventral margin.

References

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