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Strumigenys timicala
| Strumigenys timicala | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Strumigenys |
| Species: | S. timicala |
| Binomial name | |
| Strumigenys timicala (Bolton, 2000)
| |
The more than 100 records of this species show S. timicala inhabits wet forests. One sample is noted as being found in dead wood with the rest being taken from litter-samples.
Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys silvestrii-group. A short series (4 workers) from El Salvador is included here as I am not convinced that it represents a separate species. They are almost identical to the type-series but are slightly larger and have fractionally longer scapes (HL 0.57-0.58, HW 0.45-0.46, CI 78-80, ML 0.34-0.35, MI 58-60, SL 0.38, SI 83-84). Their dentition is as the type-series but the mandible also has a minute denticle proximal of the midlength, the appearance of which may be correlated with the slightly larger size. Some feeble sculpture is present on the postpetiole disc and the disc itself is a little larger. Four species of this group, all from Central America, are characterised by having two pairs of stiff erect hairs on the cephalic dorsum, Strumigenys calamita, Strumigenys nastata, Strumigenys perdita and timicala; see notes under nastata.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 15.692937° to 13.1068996°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua (type locality).
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. |
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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
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- timicala. Strumigenys timicala Bolton, 2000: 560 (w.) NICARAGUA.
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 0.54, HW 0.44, CI 81, ML 0.30, MI 56, SL 0.33, SI 75, PW 0.28, AL 0.54. Mandible with a single small preapical tooth, located very close to the apicodorsal tooth and weakly inclined toward it; mandible proximal of this without a denticle. Cephalic dorsum with two pairs of erect hairs, one pair close to highest point of vertex, the other close to occipital margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellate; pronotal humeral hair flagellate; a flagellate pair on the mesonotum. First gastral tergite with numerous short stout hairs that are erect to suberect, most have weakly expanded apices so that they appear remiform or feebly clavate in profile. Cephalic ground-pilosity of inconspicuous narrowly spatulate hairs; those fringing upper scrobe margin narrowly spoon-shaped. Pronotal dorsum reticulate-punctate and with some fine, posteriorly divergent, longitudinal rugulae or costulae. Side of pronotum with some oblique costulae; most of mesopleuron and part of metapleuron smooth. Propodeum with a pair of short triangular teeth. Petiole in dorsal view slightly broader than long. Ventral surface of petiole with a narrow spongiform strip that is deepest posteriorly, but even here it is only a fraction of the maximum depth of the peduncle (see under paratypes). Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole not developed but ventral lobe of postpetiole large and deep. Disc of postpetiole mostly smooth, at most with some weak sculpture dorsolaterally. Basigastral costulae strongly developed, almost as long as postpetiole disc in dorsal view; gaster otherwise smooth and shining.
Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.1, HL 0.53-0.56, HW 0.42-0.45, CI 78-82, ML 0.30-0.32, MI 54-58, SL 0.32-0.35, SI 75-79, PW 0.25-0.28, AL 0.52-0.55 (9 measured). Through the type-series there is notable variation in development of the ventral spongiform strip on the petiole. At its strongest the spongiform tissue extends from end to end of the segment, shallowest anteriorly and deepest posteriorly, but even here it is only narrow. In some the spongiform tissue does not commence until about the level of the spiracle and in some it is more or less effaced, being present only posteroventrally beneath the node.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Nicaragua: Hotel Selva Negra, km. 139 N Matagalpa, 1200+ m., 18.vi.1978, forest (C. Kugler & J. Hahn) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).
Paratypes. 18 workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, The Natural History Museum).
References
- Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 560, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
- Longino J. T. 2013. Ants of Nicargua. Consulted on 18 Jan 2013. https://sites.google.com/site/longinollama/reports/ants-of-nicaragua
- Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.