Stenamma vexator

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Stenamma vexator
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Stenammini
Genus: Stenamma
Species: S. vexator
Binomial name
Stenamma vexator
Branstetter, 2013

Stenamma vexator casent0126485 p 1 high.jpg

Stenamma vexator casent0126485 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species is known only from Winkler and Berlese samples of sifted leaf litter. It occurs from approximately 1000–2000 m elevation and inhabits a variety of montane mesic forest environments (e.g. cloud forest, wet oak forest, oak-pine forest, tropical subevergreen forest, Liquidambar forest).

Identification

Branstetter (2013) - Integument mostly black or dark brown to red-brown; small-to medium-sized species (see HL, ML, PrW below); anterior clypeal margin undulating, forming 2–4 blunt teeth; basal margin of mandible usually sinuous, with a slight basal depression, but without a tooth; face completely sculptured, mostly rugoreticulate; pilosity on gastral dorsum predominately suberect and relatively sparse; eye of moderate size (EL 0.10–0.15, REL 18–22), oval-shaped, with 5–8 ommatidia at greatest diameter; propodeal spines tuberculate to short (PSL 0.08–0.16, PSI 1.1–1.8), often robust; petiole in profile often distinctive, appearing somewhat elongate, with node broadly rounded and pointed posteriad, venter under node with a small concavity. Similar species: Stenamma crypticum, Stenamma huachucanum, Stenamma stictosomum.

Stenamma vexator is not a particularly distinctive species, but it should be separable from similar species by the diagnostic character states given above and in the key. It bears the most resemblance to Stenamma huachucanum, which occurs in sympatry with S. vexator at several sites. Stenamma vexator is usually larger than Stenamma huachucanum and has a longer, more distinctive petiole.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Mexico (Atlantic slope).

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 21.297° to 17.17297°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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

Males have yet to be collected.

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Stenamma vexator casent0604610 h 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604610 p 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604610 d 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604610 l 1 high.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0604610. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by FMNH.
Stenamma vexator casent0604641 h 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604641 p 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604641 d 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604641 l 1 high.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0604641. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by FMNH.
Stenamma vexator casent0604721 h 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604721 p 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604721 d 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0604721 l 1 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0604721. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by MGBPC.
Stenamma vexator casent0605506 h 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0605506 p 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0605506 d 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0605506 l 1 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0605506. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by MGBPC.
Stenamma vexator casent0126485 p 2 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126485 h 2 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126485 p 3 high.jpg
Holotype Stenamma vexatorWorker. Specimen code casent0126485. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by USNM.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Stenamma vexator casent0126490 h 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126490 p 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126490 d 1 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126490 p 2 high.jpgStenamma vexator casent0126490 l 1 high.jpg
Paratype Stenamma vexatorQueen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0126490. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. Owned by USNM.

Nomenclature

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

  • vexator. Stenamma vexator Branstetter, 2013: 263, figs. 165-167 (w.q.) MEXICO (Veracruz, Chiapas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro).
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 11 paratype workers, 9 paratype queens.
    • Type-locality: holotype Mexico: Veracruz, 1.2 mi. S Huatusco, 1344 m., 2-5.viii.1969, ANTC18239 (S. & J. Peck); paratypes with same data.
    • Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); CASC, FMNH, INBC, JTLC, LACM, MCZC, MGBC, MZSP, UCDC, UNAM, USNM (paratypes).
    • Distribution: Mexico.

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

Description

Worker

(29 measured) HL 0.62–0.78 (0.65), HW 0.55–0.71 (0.58), FLD 0.15–0.20 (0.16), PCW 0.04–0.06 (0.04), SL 0.50–0.67 (0.55), EL 0.10–0.15 (0.12), ACL 0.48–0.60 (0.50), ML 0.77–1.02 (0.85), PrW 0.39–0.49 (0.43), PSL 0.08–0.16, SDL 0.07–0.10 (0.09), PL 0.31–0.40 (0.34), PH 0.17–0.23 (0.19), PW 0.14–0.19 (0.15), PPL 0.15–0.22 (0.20), PPH 0.16–0.21 (0.17), PPW 0.17–0.22 (0.19), MFL 0.53–0.76 (0.60), MTL 0.45–0.62 (0.48), CI 89–96 (89), SI 85–98 (94), REL 18–22 (21), FLI 25–29 (28), PSI 1.1–1.8 (1.6), PI 53–59 (59), MFI 93– 107 (97), ACI1 65–71 (68), ACI2 87–98 (92) Small- to medium-sized species; general body color black, or dark brown to red-brown (type population), with appendages brown to orange-brown or yellow-brown, lighter in joints and toward extremities; setae golden brown; mandible with 6 teeth, 2 teeth nearest basal tooth sometimes more worn and less distinct, basal tooth often well-defined, projecting; basal margin of mandible usually sinuous, with a slight basal depression (type population), but without a tooth, some populations with basal margin almost straight; mandible mostly smooth, with scattered piligerous punctae, and some striations near base and along lateral surface; median lobe of clypeus with a pair of faint longitudinal carinulae that diverge anteriorly, apex of lobe with a short transverse carinula, remainder of clypeus mostly smooth; area in between median lobe and anterior clypeal margin forming a distinct concavity where mandibles insert; posterior extension of clypeus between frontal lobes of moderate width (PCW 0.04–0.06), with sides subparallel; frontal lobes of moderate width (FLD 0.15–0.20, FLI 25–29), not greatly covering torular lobes in full-face view; head roughly oval-shaped (CI 89–96), with posterior margin flat to slightly depressed medially; eye of moderate size (EL 0.10–0.15, REL 18–22), oval-shaped, with 5–8 ommatidia at greatest diameter; face usually strongly sculptured, mostly rugoreticulate, with some longitudinal rugae along midline (type population), some populations with sculpture somewhat polished and reticulate less distinct; scape of moderate length (SI 85–98), just reaching posterior margin of head when laid back; surface of scape mostly smooth, with scattered piligerous punctae; flagellum with distinct 4-segmented antennal club; mesosoma usually completely sculptured (type population), but some populations shinier overall and with pronotum mostly smooth and shiny; pronotal dorsum longitudinally rugose, with rugae dense to somewhat sparse and irregular, rugae usually becoming punctae and reticulae on dorsum of mesonotum; side of pronotum mostly punctate or rugose, often with a small to large patch of smooth cuticle on ventral half; mesopleuron and side of propodeum rugulose-punctate; propodeal dorsum with rugoreticulae near anterior margin, changing to transverse carinulae near posterior margin; promesonotum in profile low-domed, slightly asymmetrical, with apex posterior of midpoint, anterior declivity of pronotum sometimes forming a sharp transition with dorsum, sculpture on declivity punctate, contrasting with rugose dorsum; metanotal groove usually well-demarcated, of moderate depth and width; propodeal spines tuberculate to short (PSL 0.08–0.16, PSI 1.1–1.8), often somewhat robust (type population); petiole in profile often distinctive, appearing somewhat elongate (PL/HW 0.53–0.56), with node broadly rounded and pointed posteriad, venter under node often with a small concavity; peduncle sometimes noticeably slender, thickening toward node; postpetiole in profile subspherical, similar in size to petiolar node (PPH/PH 0.85–0.91); anterior face of petiolar and postpetiolar nodes smooth, remainder of waist mostly punctate; gaster mostly smooth and shiny, with scattered piligerous punctae; pilosity on head, short and bilayered, with some longer suberect setae, and many shorter decumbent setae, remainder of body dorsum with longer suberect setae; pilosity on gastral dorsum predominately suberect and relatively sparse; setae on scape mostly subdecumbent; setae on legs mostly subdecumbent to appressed, with some longer suberect setae on femoral venters and coxae.

Queen

Stenamma vexator casent0126490 p 2 high.jpg

(11 measured) HL 0.66–0.77 (0.66), HW 0.60–0.70 (0.60), FLD 0.17–0.20 (0.18), PCW 0.05–0.07 (0.05), SL 0.53–0.64 (0.53), EL 0.18–0.20 (0.18), ACL 0.50–0.60 (0.51), ML 0.94–1.13 (0.94), PrW 0.53–0.64 (0.54), PSL 0.14–0.17 (0.15), SDL 0.09–0.12 (0.09), PL 0.37–0.44 (0.38), PH 0.19–0.23 (0.20), PW 0.16–0.19 (0.17), PPL 0.18–0.22 (0.20), PPH 0.18–0.23 (0.19), PPW 0.20– 0.24 (0.20), MFL 0.59–0.75 (0.59), MTL 0.49–0.61 (0.51), CI 90–95 (92), SI 84–95 (87), REL 28–30 (30), FLI 26–30 (29), PSI 1.3–1.8 (1.6), MFI 90–104 (102), ACI1 65–68 (68), ACI2 88–98 (96).

Same as worker except for standard queen modifications and as follows: pronotum with transverse rugae and rugoreticulae on lateral surface, changing to carinulae and punctae mesad; mesoscutum densely longitudinally rugose; scutellum rugose to rugoreticulate, sometimes with a smooth patch mesad; side of propodeum rugulose, with faint punctae, dorsum with transverse carinulae; wing venation as in Figure 167D.

Type Material

Holotype Specimen Labels

Holotype worker. MÉXICO, Veracruz: 1.2mi (1.9km) S Huatusco, ca. 19.193°N, 96.956°W, 1344m, 2-5 Aug 1969, cloud forest, Berlese sample of sifted leaf litter (S. & J. Peck, collection ANTC18239) USNM, specimen CASENT0126485.Paratypes: same data as holotype 1dq, 1w, CASC, CASENT0126500, CASENT0126495, 1dq, 1w, FMNH, CASENT126502, CASENT0126499, 1dq, 1w, INBC, CASENT0126503, CASENT0126506, 1w, JTLC, CASENT0126507, 1dq, 1w, LACM, CASENT0126487, CASENT0126486, 1dq, 1w, MGBPC, CASENT0126511, CASENT0126512, 1dq, 1w, MCZ, CASENT0126523, CASENT0126496, 1w, MZSP, CASENT0126517, 1dq, 1w, UCDC, CASENT0126520, CASENT0126501, 1dq, 1w, UNAM, CASENT0126513, CASENT0126498, 1dq, 1w, USNM, CASENT0126490, CASENT0126492.

References

  • Branstetter, M. G. 2012. Origin and diversification of the cryptic ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), inferred from multilocus molecular data, biogeography and natural history. Systematic Entomology 37:478-496. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00624.x
  • Branstetter, M.G. 2013. Revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 295, 1–277. doi:10.3897/zookeys.295.4905

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Branstetter M.G. 2013. Revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 295: 1–277
  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944