Strumigenys ataxia

Strumigenys ataxia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. ataxia
Binomial name
Strumigenys ataxia Bolton, 2000 Specimen labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys ataxia.

Identification

Bolton (2000) – A member of the koningsbergeri complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. See Strumigenys chorosa.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Strumigenys biology  Strumigenys were once thought to be rare. The development and increased use of litter sampling methods has led to the discovery of a tremendous diversity of species. Many species are specialized predators (e.g. see Strumigenys membranifera and Strumigenys louisianae). Collembola (springtails) and other tiny soil arthropods are typically favored prey. Species with long linear mandibles employ trap-jaws to sieze their stalked prey (see Dacetine trap-jaws). Larvae feed directly on insect prey brought to them by workers. Trophallaxis is rarely practiced. Most species live in the soil, leaf litter, decaying wood or opportunistically move into inhabitable cavities on or under the soil. Colonies are small, typically less than 100 individuals but in some species many hundreds. Moist warm habitats and micro-habitats are preferred. A few better known tramp and otherwise widely ranging species tolerate drier conditions. Foraging is often in the leaf litter and humus. Workers of many species rarely venture above ground or into exposed, open areas. Individuals are typically small, slow moving and cryptic in coloration. When disturbed individuals freeze and remain motionless. Males are not known for a large majority of species. ‎

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0104945. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

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

• ataxia. Strumigenys ataxia Bolton, 2000: 838 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra).

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.9, HL 0.88, HW 0.70, CI 80, ML 0.43, MI 49, SL 0.49, SI 70, PW 0.34, AL 0.76. With characters of koningsbergeri-complex. Preocular concavity forms a broad shallow depression on ventral surface of head. Upper scrobe margins not constricted, straight to shallowly convex above eye; only outer arc of eye visible in full-face view. Edge of upper scrobe margin without a row of low triangular teeth and lacking a jagged appearance. Depression across posterior vertex of head broad and shallow but distinct. Pronotum with a pair of short standing hairs close to anterodorsal margin. Pronotal humeral hair stiff, straight and simple. A single erect pair of hairs on mesonotum. Katepisternum mostly smooth and metapleuron with a patch where sculpture is effaced. Bullae of femoral glands absent on hind legs or present but very small and inconspicuous. Lamella on propodeum narrow, its posterior (free) margin concave. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite simple and cylindrical, pointed apically.

Paratypes. TL 2.9-3.0, HL 0.86-0.90, HW 0.68-0.72, CI 78-82, ML 0.40-0.44, MI 46-50, SL 0.47-0.51, SI 67-72, PW 0.33-0.34, AL 0.75-0.82 (7 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker (top worker of three on pin), Indonesia: Sumatra, N Sum., 5 km. W Brastagi Tongkoh, 1450 m., 3.xii.1989, #29b (Lobl, Agosti & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève). Paratypes. 14 workers with same data as holotype (MHNG, The Natural History Museum).

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 838, worker described)
• Musfira, S.H., Rafi, M., Gusti, M., Putri, D.H., Satria, R. 2022. New data on the genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sumatra. Zoosystematica Rossica 31(1): 74–86 (doi:10.31610/zsr/2022.31.1.74).
• Tang, K. L., Guénard, B. 2023. Further additions to the knowledge of Strumigenys (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) within South East Asia, with the descriptions of 20 new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 907, 1–144 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2023.907.2327).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Bolton B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65: 1-1028.