Strumigenys moera

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys moera.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys emeryi-group. Similar to Strumigenys sevesta but with narrower head, longer scape, better developed spongiform tissue ventrally on the petiole, a more extensive shining area on the pleurae and entirely reticulate-punctate pronotum.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -0.2589° to -0.2589°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Ecuador (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.

  • moera. Strumigenys moera Bolton, 2000: 516 (w.) ECUADOR.

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 2.9, HL 0.73, HW 0.52, CI 71, ML 0.42, MI 57, SL 0.52, SI 100, PW 0.32, AL 0.72. Mandible without trace of preapical dentition. Apicoscrobal hair and pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Both pairs of erect hairs on cephalic dorsum stiff and simple; mesonotum with a similar but more acutely pointed pair of hairs (adherent to surface in holotype, most probably erect in life). Petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite with stiff simple hairs that are erect or inclined, shallowly curved along their length and mostly acute apically; those toward apex of first gastral tergite weakly flagellate. Pronotal dorsum reticulate-punctate, without superimposed rugular sculpture. Mesopleuron and most of metapleuron smooth and shining, side of propodeum reticulate-punctate. Propodeum with a pair of narrowly triangular acute spines, each subtended by a very narrow lamella, little more than a carina, down the declivity; propodeal lacuna absent. Ventral surface of petiole with a thin spongiform strip that commences at about the level of the spiracle and extends to the posteroventral angle, becoming deeper posteriorly. In profile ventral spongiform lobe of postpetiole small, slightly smaller than the area of exposed cuticle of the disc. Disc of postpetiole finely reticulate-punctate everywhere. Basigastral costulae sparse and very short, much shorter than postpetiole disc.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Ecuador: Provo Pichincho, 4 km. E Santo Domingo de los Colorados, 520 m., 22.vi.1975, B-304 (S. & J. Peck) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 516, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.