Strumigenys avatar

Strumigenys avatar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. avatar
Binomial name
	Strumigenys avatar; Sarnat, Hita-Garcia, Dudley, Liu, Fischer & Economo, 2019

Identification

Strumigenys avatar is a large, long-limbed, dark reddish-brown species with a distinctive head shape. The only other Fijian species resembling S. avatar is its close and better-known relative Strumigenys nidifex. The two can be easily distinguished by the first gaster tergite and sternite. In S. avatar, these are entirely striate-punctate. In S. nidifex, sculpture is restricted to short basigastral costulae on the tergite. Additional discussion of these two species is given under the notes of S. nidifex. Strumigenys avatar is known only from a single collection in the Nadarivatu area (Viti Levu), which is also the type locality of S. nidifex. The two are sympatric, which, together with the clear morphological differences, validates the distinction of two separate species.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Fiji (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.

Biology

Castes

Strumigenys X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Strumigenys avatar (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

Strumigenys FJ01. See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

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

avatar. Strumigenys avatar Sarnat, Hita-Garcia, Dudley, Liu, Fischer & Economo, 2019: 17, figs. 7C, 10E, 10F, 13, 26, Model 3 (w.q.m.) FIJI.

Description

Worker. Measurements (n = 6): TL 4.28–4.60 mm, HL 1.02–1.19 mm, HW 0.87–0.99 mm, CI 79–86, MdL 0.46–0.58 mm, MI 45–49, SL 0.89–1.01 mm, SI 74–83, PW 0.42–0.45 mm, PI 46–48, FL 0.89–1.01 mm, FI 99–107, EL 0.42–0.45 mm. Color dull dark reddish-brown with yellowish-brown appendages. Mandibles long and linear. Apical fork composed of two spiniform teeth and a single intercalary denticle. Single stoutly spiniform preapical tooth present close to the apicodorsal tooth. Cephalic dorsum uniformly reticulate-punctate; with five pairs of erect simple hairs on posterior margin and one pair close to the highest point of vertex. Antennal scapes very long. In full-face view, sides of head immediately in front of the eye with an abrupt and very conspicuous indentation. Vertex of head raised with dorsolateral margin mesad of eye formed into a knobby protuberance. Region of head between vertex and posterolateral lobes depressed. Scrobe absent behind level of eye. Pronotal humeral hairs simple, short and stiff. Two additional pairs of simple erect hairs present on promesonotum. Postpetiole with two pairs of erect hairs, first gastral segment with five pairs. Legs entirely lacking projecting hairs. Mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole uniformly and finely reticulate-punctate on all surfaces. Propodeal teeth free; margin of declivity entirely lacking even a thin lamella. Petiole node in dorsal view conspicuously longer than broad. Spongiform appendages of waist segments reduced. On petiole present as a thin, narrow curtain subtending the ventral margin and posterodorsal margin. Entire first tergite and sternite of gaster finely striate-punctate.

References

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