Strumigenys elapoma

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

One of the two known specimens of this species was found in the leaf litter of a swamp forest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the elapoma complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. The two species of the elapoma-complex combine the apical mandibular dentition of the prosopis complex with the dense strong sculpture of the lyroessa-complex, as noted in the diagnoses of the species complexes, above. S. elapoma and Strumigenys morphica are easily distinguished as their standard indices, and form and distribution of pilosity, are very different. Apart from these characters, the mandibles are less strongly flared outwards at the base in elapoma, where the ML is about equal to the maximum width across the outer margins of the fully closed mandibles. In morphica the ML is only about 0.82 X the maximum width across the outer margins of the fully closed mandibles.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), Sulawesi.

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.

elapoma. Strumigenys elapoma Bolton, 2000: 869 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

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 2.4, HL 0.66, HW 0.54, CI 82, ML 0.23, MI 35, SL 0.28, SI 52, PW 0.31, AL 0.66. Characters of elapoma-complex. Head in profile markedly dorsoventrally flattened and very thin; scrobe in profile very narrow from top to bottom. Upper scrobe margin with anteriorly curved small spoon-shaped hairs that are only slightly smaller than those on leading edge of scape. Apicoscrobal hair short and simple; posterior to this the dorsolateral margin with 10 or more small stubbly projecting hairs that are about two-thirds the length of the apicoscrobal hair. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of minute erect hairs on the occipital margin; dorsum otherwise without standing hairs. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and simple. Promesonotal dorsum and dorsolateral margin with numerous small stubbly simple erect hairs; similar hairs present on waist segments and dense on first gastral tergite. Dorsal (outer) margins of middle and hind tibiae with numbers of the same small stiff hairs, suberect and much shorter than the maximum width of the segment from which they arise.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sulawesi Tengah, nr Morowali, Ranu River Area, 27.i.-20.iv.1980, BM 1980-280 (M. J. D. Brendell) (The Natural History Museum).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 869, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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