Strumigenys kyroma

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Strumigenys kyroma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Strumigenys
Species: S. kyroma
Binomial name
Strumigenys kyroma
Bolton, 2000

Strumigenys kyroma casent0900863 p 1 high.jpg

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Specimen Labels

Two collections of this species have come from rotten logs in rainforest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys loriae-group. Within the group all species except Strumigenys chyzeri either lack preapical teeth or have short preapical teeth that arise, quite normally, from the inner margin of the mandible. S. chyzeri is instantly distinguished as its preapical teeth arise from the dorsal surface of the mandible, well above and away from the inner margin.

Of the remaining species one, Strumigenys pachycephala, has no preapical tooth on the mandible; two, Strumigenys loriae and Strumigenys festigona, have reticulate-punctate sculpture on the postpetiole disc and have relatively long basigastral costulae. The other three usually lack such postpetiole sculpture and have short or very short basigastral costulae: Strumigenys odalatra, Strumigenys kyroma and Strumigenys retothra. The first of these is easily distinguished as it possesses long erect fine hairs on the middle and hind basitarsi, has two quite large and conspicuous intercalary teeth between the apicodorsal and apicoventral mandibular teeth, and has pilosity on the first gastral tergite that is of short erect-spatulate to short-remiform hairs. For differentiation of kyroma from its closest relative retothra see under the latter name.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -5.12033° to -5.65°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Explore-icon.png 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

Nomenclature

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

  • kyroma. Strumigenys kyroma Bolton, 2000: 862 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA.

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 3.6, HL 1.07, HW 0.90, CI 84, ML 0.48, MI 45, SL 0.66, SI 73, PW 0.42, AL 1.00. Preapical tooth on mandible stoutly conical and weakly recurved. In full-face view side of head in front of preocular impression expanded into a bluntly triangular projection. Cephalic dorsum with scattered fine rugulae overlying reticulate-punctate sculpture. Dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe with a few short stiff projecting hairs that are apically blunt or slightly expanded and splayed out. In profile cephalic dorsum with short stiff standing hairs present at highest point of vertex and near occipital margin, but absent from concavity of transverse dorsal impression. Dorsum of pronotum with a pair of standing hairs close to its anterodorsal margin, anterior to the humeral pair. Pleurae and side of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Propodeal spines slender, straight or weakly upcurved. Bulla of femoral gland on hind leg visible, approximately same size as bulla of the hind tibial gland. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind basitarsi without erect long fine simple hairs. Petiole node low-subconical in profile, the lateral spongiform lobe little more than an extension of the collar. Depth of ventral spongiform strip on petiole less than half depth of peduncle but strip extends whole length of petiole. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly broader than long. Disc of postpetiole smooth, not uniformly reticulate-punctate. Basigastral costulae much shorter than length of disc of postpetiole. Hairs on first gastral tergite stiff and blunt, most or all of them somewhat flattened and expanded toward the apex. Head, alitrunk and waist segments yellow, gaster a strongly contrasting dark brown. Legs the same colour as head and alitrunk, not strongly contrasting with them.

Paratype. TL 3.8, HL 1.12, HW 0.98, CI 88, ML 0.50, MI 45, SL 0.67, SI 68, PW 0.43, AL 1.06.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: 12 km. SW Telefomin, 7.vii.1980, 1600 m., 5.13°S, 141.35°E, ex rotten log, montane rainforest, #4702 (P. S. Ward) (The Natural History Museum). Paratype. 1 worker and 1 queen with same data as holotype (University of California, Davis).

References

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 862, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
  • Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
  • Lucky A., E. Sarnat, and L. Alonso. 2011. Ants of the Muller Range, Papua New Guinea, Chapter 10. In Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2013. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Nakanai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.
  • Lucky A., L. E. Alonso, E. Sarnat, and J. Hulr. 2015. Ants and scolytine beetles. In: Richards, S.J. and N. Whitmore (editors) 2015. A rapid biodiversity assessment of Papua New Guinea's Hindenburg Wall region. Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Program. Goroka, PNG.