Strumigenys lacunosa

Strumigenys lacunosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. lacunosa
Binomial name
	Strumigenys lacunosa; Lin & Wu, W.-J., 1996 Specimen Labels

Common Name

Hakake-uroko-ari
Language:	Japanese

This species is rare in Japan - with only one record to data, from the floor of broadleaf forest in northern Okinawa Island (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the caniophanes complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. See notes under Strumigenys dipsas.

Japan

The absence of subapical teeth on the mandibles is unique to this species among Japanese Strumigenys, so that it is easily distinguished from the others (Japanese Ant Image Database).

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: Japan.

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.

lacunosa. Strumigenys lacunosa Lin & Wu, 1996: 146, figs. 5, 11, 20-24 (w.q.) TAIWAN. See also: Bolton, 2000: 759.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (2000) - TL 3.1, HL 0.78, HW 0.57, CI 73, ML 0.39, MI 50, SL 0.43, SI 75, PW 0.33, AL 0.84. Mandible with a preapical tooth, reduced to a large denticle in some individuals. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with 3 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs: one just posterior to level of eye, one in apicoscrobal position, one posterior to this on dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of 4-6 erect fine hairs along occipital margin but without erect hairs anterior to this. Dorsum of head weakly finely reticulate-rugulose and densely reticulate-punctate. Apical funicular segment moderately constricted basally. Pronotal dorsum sharply punctate, side of pronotum less regularly sculptured. Pleurae and side of propodeum mostly smooth, some sculpture present above level of propodeal spiracle. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate and very long. Dorsum of pronotum with at least 2 pairs of erect flagellate hairs, and about 4 pairs present on mesonotum. First gastral tergite with numerous long fine flagellate hairs. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of hind femur with spaced rows of standing hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of hind tibia and basitarsus each with long erect freely projecting filiform or flagellate hairs. Propodeal teeth acute, in profile short-triangular and broad basally. Petiole in profile claviform, the lateral spongiform lobe large; in dorsal view the lateral spongiform lobes extend forward to level of anterior face of node where node grades into peduncle.

Type Material

Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, paratype workers and queen, TAIWAN: Taipei Hsien, Chuchih, 26.v.1988 (C. -C. Lin); paratype workers and queens, TAIWAN: Nantou Hsien, Chitou, 29.xi.1992 (C. -C. Lin); Lienhuachih, 31.x.1988 (Y. C. Shiau); Taitung Hsien, Lichia, 29.iii.1995 (C. -C. Lin) (National Taiwan University, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, The Natural History Museum) [examined].

Etymology

Refers to lacunose sculptures on the head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole.

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 759, redescription of worker)
Imai, H.T., Kihara, A., Kondoh, M., Kubota, M., Kuribayashi, S., Ogata, K., Onoyama, K., Taylor, R.W., Terayama, M., Yoshimura, M., Ugawa, Y. 2003. Ants of Japan. 224 pp, Gakken, Japan.
Lin, C.-C.; Wu, W.-J. 1996. Revision of the ant genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan. Chin. J. Entomol. 16:137-152. (page 146, figs. 5, 11, 20-24 worker, queen described)
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).
Wang, C., Chung, F.-Y., Lin, C.-C., Gibson, J. C., McGuire, S., Suarez, A. V., Billen, J. 2023. The spongiform tissue in Strumigenys ants contains exocrine glands. Arthropod Structure & Development 73, 101246 (doi:10.1016/j.asd.2023.101246).
Wang, C., Sung, P.-J., Lin, C.-C., Ito, F., Billen, J. 2023. Parthenogenetic reproduction in Strumigenys ants: An update. Insects 14, 195 (doi:10.3390/insects14020195).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Hu C.-H. 2006. Indigenized conservation and biodiversity maintenance on Orchid Island. PhD Thesis, graduate school of the University of Minnesota. 150 pages.
Lin C.C., and W.J. Wu. 1996. Revision of the ant genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Taiwan. Chinese Journal of Entomology 16:137-152.
Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.