Technomyrmex anterops

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Technomyrmex anterops
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Genus: Technomyrmex
Species: T. anterops
Binomial name
Technomyrmex anterops
Fisher & Bolton, 2007

Technomyrmex anterops casent0058901 profile 1.jpg

Technomyrmex anterops casent0058901 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

A nest series from Andrasibe collected by Ward also contains a few alate queens. The total number of specimens known is small, but no worker-queen intercastes have been seen. (Bolton 2007)

Identification

Bolton (2007) - This conspicuous, size-variable and distinctively coloured species makes carton nests on foliage. Apart from this its size, anteriorly located eyes, broadly rounded propodeum where the dorsum curves evenly into the declivity and very short gastral setae combine to make this species very distinct among the Malagasy Technomyrmex.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -18.93667694° to -21.23583333°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Technomyrmex anterops casent0097891 head 1.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0097891 profile 1.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0097891 dorsal 1.jpg
Holotype of Technomyrmex anteropsWorker. Specimen code casent0097891. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Technomyrmex anterops casent0170211 head 1.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0170211 profile 1.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0170211 profile 2.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0170211 dorsal 1.jpgTechnomyrmex anterops casent0170211 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0170211. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • anterops. Technomyrmex anterops Fisher & Bolton, in Bolton, 2007a: 45, figs. 22, 36 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

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 4.1, HL 0.96, HW 0.90, SL 0.92, PW 0.58, WL 1.32. Indices: CI 94, SI 102, OJ 22, EPI 53, DTI 150.

Frontal carina with 2 setae: in profile the anterior above the torulus, the posterior at about the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of head posterior to this with 2 - 3 pairs of setae: 1 - 2 short pairs to about the level of the posterior margin of the eye and 1 longer pair located just over half way between level of posterior margin of eye and posterior margin of head. No setae on the posterior margin and all setae on dorsum are shorter than maximum diameter of eye. Posterior margin of head concave in full-face view and anterior clypeal margin with a small shallow median indentation. Sides of head convex behind the eyes, more or less straight and convergent anteriorly in front of the eyes. Eyes located far in front of midlength, EPI 53; outer margin of eye does not break the outline of the side. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma (all shorter than maximum diameter of eye): pronotum 3; mesonotum I (minute); propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margins of propodeal declivity 1 - 2, located directly behind the spiracle, none arise above the level of the spiracle. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline forms a long shallow slope, without a distinct step or angle in the outline that defines conspicuous dorsal and declivitous faces. Dorsum of propodeum long in profile, shallowly convex and meeting the declivity through a broadly rounded curve; straight-line length of dorsum greater than depth of declivity to spiracle and the spiracle distinctly inset from the margin of the declivity. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with sparse very short setae; those on the first and second tergites distinctly less than half the maximum diameter of the eye. Head reddish brown; mesosoma lighter, yellowish brown; gaster dark brown to blackish brown. Petiole pale, about the same colour as the hind coxae. Legs lighter than mesosoma, dull yellow to light brownish yellow; middle and hind tasi about the same colour as the tibiae.

Other worker. TL 3.3 - 4.2, HL 0.84 - 0.96, HW 0.72 - 0.90, SL 0.82 - 1.00, PW 0.47 - 0.58, WL 1.16 - 1.36 (10 measured). Indices: CI 86 - 95, SI 100 - 116, OI 22 - 25, EPI 50 - 60, DTI 150 – 162. As holotype but in the smallest paratype (CASENT 0097892) the posterior margin of the head is more deeply impressed, the sides of the head in front of the eyes are shallowly concave and the outer margins of the eyes just touch the outline of the sides in full-face view. Some paratypes lack full adult colour and are lighter everywhere than the holotype. The pronotal dorsum has 2 - 4 pairs of short setae and the minute pair of setae on the mesonotum are easily lost by abrasion. Head shape varies with size; smaller workers generally have the sides behind the eyes less strongly convex than larger workers.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Fianarantsoa Prov., Ranomafana N.P., Talatakely, 900 m., 21°14.9'S, 47°25.5'E, 14.iv.1998, CASENT 0097891, ANTL 2602 (J. Schweikert) (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes. 4 workers with same data but CASENT numbers 0097888, 0097889, 0097890, 0097892 (CASC).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
  • Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.