Strongylognathus

Strongylognathus
Strongylognathus testaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853
Type species
Eciton testaceum, now Strongylognathus testaceus
Diversity
27 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Strongylognathus testaceus Specimen Label
Synonyms
Myrmus Schenck, 1853

Evolutionary Relationships

Rostromyrmex Cardiocondyla Ocymyrmex Nesomyrmex Xenomyrmex Terataner Atopomyrmex Cataulacus Carebara Diplomorium Melissotarsus Rhopalomastix Calyptomyrmex Strongylognathus, Tetramorium Cyphoidris Dicroaspis Aretidris Vollenhovia Dacetinops Indomyrma Crematogaster Meranoplus Lophomyrmex Adlerzia Recurvidris Stereomyrmex Trichomyrmex Eutetramorium Royidris Malagidris Vitsika Huberia Podomyrma Liomyrmex Metapone Kartidris Mayriella Tetheamyrma Dacatria Proatta Dilobocondyla Secostruma Acanthomyrmex Myrmecina Perissomyrmex Pristomyrmex some Lordomyrma Propodilobus Lasiomyrma [some Lordomyrma Ancyridris some Lordomyrma Paratopula Poecilomyrma Romblonella Rotastruma Gauromyrmex Vombisidris Temnothorax Harpagoxenus Formicoxenus Leptothorax

Based on Ward et al. (2014) and Blaimer et al. (2018).

The ant genus Strongylognatus comprises obligatory social parasites, and include species which are dulotic, degeneratively dulotic as well as are queen-tolerant inquilines. All live in nests of various Tetramorium species. The parasite queen does not kill the host queen, but it pheromonally inhibits production of its sexual brood. The share of parasite workers in mixed colonies seldom exceeds 2%; under natural conditions, they only sporadically raid colonies of the host species to obtain more slaves. (Radchenko & Duibovikoff, 2011)

Ward et al. (2014) found that Strongylognathus is a synonym of Tetramorium, and note that it has nomenclatural priority over Tetramorium (meaning that all species of Tetramorium should be transferred to Strongylognathus). Transfer of the hundreds of valid Tetramorium species names to Strongylognathus, with consequent changes in spelling to many of them (because the gender of Tetramorium is neuter while Strongylognathus is masculine), would create considerable confusion. In this instance a ruling by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature would be required to validate a reversal of precedence (ICZN Article 23.9.3). In the interim they maintained current usage as two separate genera and refrained from synonymizing them.

Identification

Radchenko and Duibovikoff (2011) - Morphologically Strongylognathus well differs from any known Palaearctic Myrmicinae genera by its highly specialized, long and narrow mandibles with not defined masticatory margin. Bolton (1976) proposed to divide this genus into two species-groups: testaceus- and huberi-group. The species of the first group are characterized by the strongly concave occipital margin and by prominent posterio-lateral corners of the head. In contrary, the species of the huberi-group have straight or at most very shallowly concave occipital margin and rounded, not prominent posterio-lateral corners of the head.  

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to Strongylognathus of China

Distribution

Radchenko and Duibovikoff (2011) - Strongylognathus species are distributed only in the Palaearctic Region, from Iberian Peninsula to Tien-Shan Mts. in the west, and also in eastern China, Korea and Japan. Nevertheless, at least three more new undescribed species are known from Iran (Paknia et al. 2008), Pakistan (Andres Schulz, pers. comm.) and Armenia (unpublished personal data).

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Strongylognathus afer	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Strongylognathus alpinus	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium alpestre	host		Kutter, 1920; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018	host as ''Tetramorium caespitum'' in early literature
Strongylognathus alpinus	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		Kutter, 1920; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al. 2017
Strongylognathus caeciliae	host	fungus	Myrmicinosporidium durum	pathogen	Spain	García & Espadaler, 2010; Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Strongylognathus christophi	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''caespitum''
Strongylognathus christophi	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''impurum''
Strongylognathus dao	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium tsushimae	host	China	Radchenko et al., 2017	uncommon
Strongylognathus destefanii	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Menozzi, 1921; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''impurum''
Strongylognathus destefanii	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium semilaeve	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Menozzi, 1921; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''semilaeve''
Strongylognathus huberi	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		Baroni Urbani, 1962; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; de la Mora et al., 2021
Strongylognathus huberi	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		Baroni Urbani, 1962; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; de la Mora et al., 2021
Strongylognathus huberi	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium semilaeve	host		Seifert, 2018; de la Mora et al., 2021
Strongylognathus italicus	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus italicus	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''caespitum''
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium ferox	host		Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''impurum''
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium inerme	host		Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium moravicum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Radchenko, 1991; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus karawajewi	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium sulcinode	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus koreanus	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium tsushimae	host	Japan	Collingwood, 1976
Strongylognathus kratochvili	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	degenerate dulosis? tolerant of host queen?
Strongylognathus kratochvili	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium moravicum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000	degenerate dulosis? tolerant of host queen?
Strongylognathus minutus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Strongylognathus pisarskii	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Strongylognathus potanini	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Strongylognathus silvestrii	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium lucidulum	host		Buschinger & Douwes, 1993; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus silvestrii	slave maker	ant	Tetramorium semilaeve	host		Buschinger & Douwes, 1993; de la Mora et al., 2021; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium alpestre	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium brevicorne	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium caespitum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium ferox	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Seifert, 1996; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''ferox''
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium impurum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Seifert, 1996; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 2018; Wagner et al. 2017
Strongylognathus testaceus	inquiline	ant	Tetramorium moravicum	host		de la Mora et al., 2021; Novák & Sadil, 1941; Sanetra et al., 1994; Sanetra et al., 1999; Sanetra & Buschinger, 2000; Seifert, 1996; Seifert, 2018	sometimes as ''Tetramorium'' cf. ''moravicum''
Strongylognathus tylonus	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host

Flight Period

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Taxon	Month	Source	Notes
Strongylognathus alpinus	Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct	Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus bulgaricus	Jul • Aug • Sep	Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus huberi	Jul • Aug • Sep	Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus italicus	Aug • Sep	Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus kratochvili	Jul • Aug • Sep	Seifert, 2018
Strongylognathus testaceus	Jun • Jul • Aug	Seifert, 2018; antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

• Mean colony size: ? (Greer et al., 2021)
• Compound colony type: dulosis (Greer et al., 2021)
• Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
• Diet class: predator (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: 3 • Palp formula: 4,3 • Spur formula: 1 simple, 1 simple • Eyes: 0-1 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: dentiform • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Karyotype

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Strongylognathus huberi	14	28		Switzerland	Hauschteck, 1962

Nomenclature

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

• STRONGYLOGNATHUS [Myrmicinae: Tetramoriini]
  • Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853d: 389. Type-species: Eciton testaceum, by monotypy. Replacement name for Myrmus Schenck, 1853: 188. [Junior homonym of Myrmus Hahn, 1832: 81 (Hemiptera).]
• MYRMUS [junior homonym, see Strongylognathus]
  • Myrmus Schenck, 1853: 188. Type-species: Myrmus emarginatus (junior synonym of Eciton testaceum), by monotypy. [Junior homonym of Myrmus Hahn, 1832: 81 (Hemiptera).]
  • Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853d: 389, replacement name for Myrmus Schenck.

Radchenko and Duibovikoff (2011) - The taxonomy of Strongylognathus is comparatively well studied, while there are still several unresolved particular problems on this subject (Pisarski 1966, Baroni Urbani 1969, Radchenko 1985, 1991, Sanetra et al. 1999; see also Bolton 1995, Bolton et al. 2006).

References

• Acosta Salmerón, F. J.; Martínez, M. D. 1982. Consideraciones sobre la dulosis en el género Strongylognathus Mayr, 1853. (Hym. Formicidae). Boletín de la Asociación Española de Entomologia 6:121-124. [1982-12]
• Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 383, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Baroni Urbani, C. 1969b. Gli Strongylognathus del gruppo huberi nell'Europa occidentale: saggio di una revisione basata sulla casta operaia (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Boll. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 99- 101: 132-168 (page 132, Revision of huberi-group)
• Bolton, B. 1976. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Constituent genera, review of smaller genera and revision of Triglyphothrix Forel. Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 34: 281-379 (page 304, Review of genus)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 225, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
• Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 129, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae )
• D'Ettorre, P., Heinze, J. 2001. Sociobiology of slave-making ants. Acta ethologica 3, 67–82 (doi:10.1007/s102110100038).
• Emery, C. 1877b. Saggio di un ordinamento naturale dei Mirmicidei, e considerazioni sulla filogenesi delle formiche. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 9: 67-83 (page 81, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicidae, Myrmicidae)
• Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 770, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Emery, C. 1914e. Intorno alla classificazione dei Myrmicinae. Rend. Sess. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna Cl. Sci. Fis. (n.s.) 18: 29-42 (page 42, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Emery, C. 1924f [1922]. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [concl.]. Genera Insectorum 174C: 207-397 (page 285, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Emery, C.; Forel, A. 1879. Catalogue des Formicides d'Europe. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 5: 441-481 (page 457, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae [Myrmicidae])
• Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 245, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Mayr, G. 1853e. Ueber die Abtheilung der Myrmiciden, und eine neue Gattung derselben. Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ver. Wien 3: 387-394 (page 389, Stronglyognathus replacement name for Myrmus Schenck, 1853. Myrmus Hahn, 1832 (Hemiptera), senior homonym of Myrmus Schenck, 1853)
• Mayr, G. 1855. Formicina austriaca. Beschreibung der bisher im österreichischen Kaiserstaate aufgefundenen Ameisen, nebst Hinzufügung jener in Deutschland, in der Schweiz und in Italien vorkommenden Arten. Verh. Zool.-Bot. Ver. Wien 5: 273-478 (page 430, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae [Myrmicidae])
• Mayr, G. 1865. Formicidae. In: Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte "Novara" um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859. Zoologischer Theil. Bd. II. Abt. 1. Wien: K. Gerold's Sohn, 119 pp. (page 21, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae [Myrmicidae])
• Rabeling, C. 2020. Social Parasitism. In: Starr, C. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Social Insects. Springer, Cham. (doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_175-1).
• Radchenko, A. & Dubovikoff, D. 2011. First record of the ant genus Strongylognathus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Afghanistan, with description of a new species. Annales Zoologici. 61(4):807-810. (http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/000345411X622615).
• Radchenko, A. G. 1991b. Ants of the genus Strongylognathus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the USSR fauna. Zool. Zh. 70(1 10: 84-90 (page 89, Key to fauna of former U.S.S.R.)
• Sanetra, M.; Güsten,, R. 2001. The socially parasitic ant genus Strongylognathus Mayr in North Africa (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 20: 1-20.
• Schenck, C. F. 1853b. Die nassauischen Ameisen-Species. (Fortsetzung.). Stett. Entomol. Ztg. 14: 185-198 (page 188, Myrmus Schenck, 1853 junior homonym of Myrmus Hahn, 1832 (Hemiptera))
• Smith, F. 1858b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp.

(page 134, Stronglyognathus in Poneridae, Myrmicidae)

• Stukalyuk, S., Radchenko, Y., Gonchar, O., Akhmedov, A., Stelia, V., Reshetov, A., Shymanskyi, A. 2021. Mixed colonies of Lasius umbratus and Lasius fuliginosus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): when superparasitism may potentially develop into coexistence: a case study in Ukraine and Moldova. Halteres 12, 25–48 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.5753121).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 141, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)
• Wheeler, W. M. 1922i. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VII. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 631-710 (page 664, Stronglyognathus in Myrmicinae, Tetramoriini)