Nebothriomyrmex majeri

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Nebothriomyrmex majeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
Genus: Nebothriomyrmex
Species: N. majeri
Binomial name
Nebothriomyrmex majeri
Dubovikoff, 2004

Nebothriomyrmex majeri casent0009951 profile 1.jpg

Nebothriomyrmex majeri casent0009951 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

The only species in the genus, the types (workers only) were collected in a pitfall trap. Although it is not uncommon in the Darling Range, Nebothriomyrmex majeri is particularly abundant in coastal peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) scrubland around Bremer Bay. Here, many clusters of ant colonies can be found in white sand under rotted wood and around tree and shrub roots. Given their close association with roots in these circumstances, they may be tending root aphids or other Hemiptera. (Heterick 2009)

Identification

Worker. Palpal index 6:4. Eyes small (with about 20 facets), situated near antennal sockets; simple ocelli absent. Antennae 12-segmented. Mandibules with 4 or 5 small teeth. Median hypostoma developed, without emargination. Metanotal depression deep. Main surface of propodeum situated distinctly below mesonotum. (Dubovikoff, 2004)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Southwestern Australia.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -32.11666° to -34.96667°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

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

Castes

Only known from workers.

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Nebothriomyrmex majeri casent0009951 head 2.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0009951. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Nebothriomyrmex majeri casent0106174 head 1.jpgNebothriomyrmex majeri casent0106174 head 2.jpgNebothriomyrmex majeri casent0106174 profile 1.jpgNebothriomyrmex majeri casent0106174 dorsal 1.jpgNebothriomyrmex majeri casent0106174 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0106174. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.

Nomenclature

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

  • majeri. Nebothriomyrmex majeri Dubovikoff, 2004a: 523 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

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

Description

Worker

Body yellow, abdomen slightly darker. Erect hairs present on the clypeus (2 chaetae directed forwards in middle part and 2, directed downwards at anterior margin) and abdomen (tergites II and III with sparse chaetae, tergite IV with about 7 chaetae). Recumbent pubescence of body delicate, consisting of dense fine short hairs. Eyes situated in lower part of head. Scape short, far not reaching occipital margin of head. Clypeus slightly depressed in middle. Main surface of propodeum convex; sloping surface flat, not concave. Sacle fine, smoothly rounded upwards.

Length of body: 1.5-1.9 mm. CI = 85-89 (89), SI = 65-68 (65).

Type Material

  • Holotype, worker, Redross goldmine, 60km S Kambalda, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 3 workers, Alcoa burn project (?Jarrahdale district), Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 1 worker, Dwellingup, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 6 workers, Peppermint Grove, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 1 worker, Reabold H., Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 2 workers, Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia, Australia, Curtin Univ. (Perth).
  • Paratype, 2 workers, Redross goldmine, 60km S Kambalda, Western Australia, Australia, ZISP (St. Petersburg).

Etymology

The species is named for Prof. J. Majer, curator of the collection of ants in CUTP.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206.