Strumigenys carinognatha

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys carinognatha.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys extemena-group. Three species in the group are isolated by the specialised morphology of the basidorsal mandible described above, Strumigenys atopogenys, carinognatha and Strumigenys tarbosyne. Of these atopogenys is the largest species, with the mandibular carina least strongly developed. In addition atopogenys has the mandibles and dorsum of the head behind the clypeus smooth, completely lacks elongate standing hairs on the dorsal head and alitrunk, and lacks a specialised enlarged hair on the leading edge of the scape close to its widest point. In both carinognatha and tarbosyne the mandibles are finely sculptured and dull, the head behind the clypeus is reticulate-punctate, at least the head has elongate standing hairs, and the scape has an enlarged specialised hair at or near its broadest point. Differences separating the remaining two species are as follows.

S. carinognatha: Vertex with a single pair of standing hairs, located behind the highest point. Mesonotum without erect hairs. Eye of 2-5 ommatidia. Transverse crest on vertex sharp and acute. Base of mandibular masticatory margin with 3-4 minute denticles between two enlarged teeth.

S. tarbosyne: Vertex with a transverse row of 6 standing hairs in front of highest point and a row of 4 hairs behind highest point. Mesonotum with a single pair of erect hairs. Eye of a single ommatidium. Transverse crest on vertex low, obtuse and blunt. Base of mandibular masticatory margin with a single small tooth between two enlarged teeth.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia (as Pyramica)

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.

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

carinognatha. Pyramica carinognatha Bolton, 2000: 418, figs. 260, 288 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 117

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 1.7, HL 0.44, HW 0.40, CI 91, ML 0.14, MI 32, SL 0.22, SI 55, PW 0.24, AL 0.46. In full-face view base of dorsal surface of mandible depressed, flat to shallowly concave both longitudinally and transversely. Depressed area bounded by a carina that arises slightly mesad of the outer basal angle of the mandible, extends anteriorly along the dorsum of the mandible close to its outer margin, then curves medially across the dorsal width of the mandible, petering out before it meets the masticatory margin at about the fifth or sixth tooth from the base. Proximally the depressed area is bounded by the transverse rim that crosses the mandible in front of the anterior clypeal margin. In oblique view the lateral component of the carina is tall and very conspicuous. Leading edge of scape broadly rounded at its widest point, with a relatively large spoon-shaped hair near the greatest width of the scape and distal of this bearing a series much smaller spatulate hairs: all curve toward the apex of the scape. Clypeus smooth and shining, dorsum of head behind clypeus reticulate-punctate. Eye small, with only 2-3 ommatidia in total. Vertex behind the sharply defined transverse carina with a single pair of erect simple hairs that are quite short and stout. Pronotum and mesonotum without standing hairs of any form. Simple standing hairs present on postpetiole and first gastral tergite, curved on the former but more or less straight and erect on the gaster. Pronotal dorsum flat, in dorsal view strongly marginate dorsolaterally, the marginations shallowly convex and converging posteriorly. Propodeal declivity with lamellae but without teeth.

Paratypes. TL 1.7-1.9, HL 0.43-0.46, HW 0.39-0.41, CI 87-93, ML 0.13-0.14, MI 30-32, SL 0.20-0.22, SI 53-56, PW 0.23-0.26, AL 0.45-0.50 (7 measured). As holotype but eye varying in size from 2-5 ommatidia.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sumatra, Jambi, Rantau Pandan, nr Muarabungo, 150 m., 10.vi.1991, He 18L, SUM 255 (Deharveng & Bedos) (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle).

Paratypes. 7 workers with same data as holotype (MNHN, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Baroni Urbani, C. & De Andrade, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria” 99:1-191.
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 418, figs. 260, 288 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).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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