Strumigenys naberia

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

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Specimen Labels

The type material was found in a soil core taken from a mixed dipterocarp forest and in a litter sample in rainforest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the ebbae complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. This is the only species of the ebbae-complex to have short spoon-shaped hairs on the upper scrobe margins and leading edges of the scapes. In all others the hairs in these places are simple or at most narrowly elongate-spatulate.

The broad flattened scape described above is shared only with Strumigenys roganas within the ebbae-complex. In both of these SL is only about 4.5 X the maximum width of the scape. In all other species of the complex the scape is much narrower, with SL 6.0-8.0 X the maximum width of the scape.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.95° to 4.199°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

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

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.

  • naberia. Strumigenys naberia Bolton, 2000: 849 (w.) BORNEO.

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 2.1, HL 0.56, HW 0.48, CI 86, ML 0.22, MI 39, SL 0.28, SI 58, PW 0.29, AL 0.58. With characters of ebbae-complex. Preapical tooth conical, very feebly recurved, almost as long as width of mandible at point where it arises. Inner margin of mandible weakly sinuate proximal of preapical tooth, with a sharp-edged crest, but without a prominent broad translucent lamella. Outer margin of mandible approximately straight in basal half, shallowly convex in apical half. Ventrolateral margin of head without a preocular concavity. Upper scrobe margins broadly divergent posteriorly, eye invisible in full-face view; edge of upper scrobe margin jagged, with a series of small triangular peaks or tubercles and with a small spoon-shaped hair arising from each peak. Scape dorsoventrally flattened and broad, SL only ca 4.5 X the maximum width of the scape. Leading edge of scape broadly convex; hairs on leading edge spoon-shaped, about the same size as those on upper scrobe margin. Posterior vertex of head without a transverse depression. Dorsum of head in profile with short erect hairs along occipital margin, 1-2 on dorsum of occipital lobe and a single pair at highest point of vertex; without erect hairs anterior to this. Pronotum with a single pair of short standing hairs, close to anterodorsal margin. Mesonotu m with a single pair of short erect hairs. Katepisternum smooth, metapleuron and side of propodeum with a smooth patch. Bullae of femoral glands visible but small and inconspicuous on middle and hind legs. Lamella on propodeal declivity with posterior (free) margin straight to shallowly convex. Disc of postpetiole short, smooth. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite simple.

Paratypes. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.54-0.59, HW 0.46-0.49, CI 83-85, ML 0.22-0.23, MI 38-41, SL 0.26-0.28, SI 57 (2 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sarawak, 4th Division, Gn. Mulu N. P., vi.1975, mixed dipterocarp forest, soil core (N. M. Collins (The Natural History Museum)). Paratypes. 1 worker, Sarawak, 4th Div., Gn. Mulu N. P., v.-viii.1978, kerangas, B. M. 1978-49 (P. M. Hammond & J.E. Marshall); 1 worker, Sarawak, 4th Division, G. Mulu Nat. Pk, RGS Expd., Long Pala, 24.ix.1977, Jowl. rainfor., leaf litter (8. Bolton); 1 worker with same data as last but 18.x.1977 (BMNH, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 849, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Pfeiffer M., D. Mezger, and J. Dyckmans. 2013. Trophic ecology of tropical leaf litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a stable isotope study in four types of Bornean rain forest. Myrmecological News 19: 31-41.
  • Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040791
  • Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040857
  • Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041052
  • Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58