Technomyrmex docens

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

Technomyrmex docens casent0435450 profile 1.jpg

Technomyrmex docens casent0435450 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

T. docens produces ergatoid queens but worker-queen intercastes are apparently not developed, at least, none has been seen; also, no alate queens are present in the material examined. (Bolton 2007)

Identification

Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex textor group. T. docens seems closest related to the similar African species Technomyrmex parviflavus, but the latter has much larger eyes (OI 33 - 37) and longer scapes (SI 110 - 126), and always lacks setae on gastral tergites 1 - 3. Also, the propodeal dorsal length of parviflavus is less than the depth of the declivity to the spiracle.

The only other species on Madagascar that is known to lack setae on the entire dorsum of the head behind the clypeus is Technomyrmex voeltzkowi, but in that species the clypeus has a long narrow median incision, eyes that are located more posteriorly (EPI 80 - 100) and a third gastral tergite that lacks setae.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.8° to -19.006727°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Comoros.
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 docens casent0439766 head 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0439766 profile 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0439766 dorsal 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0439766 label 1.jpg
Holotype of Technomyrmex docensWorker. Specimen code casent0439766. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Technomyrmex docens casent0069938 head 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0069938 profile 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0069938 dorsal 1.jpgTechnomyrmex docens casent0069938 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0069938. 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.

  • docens. Technomyrmex docens Fisher & Bolton, in Bolton, 2007a: 50 (w.) 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 2.5, HL 0.59, HW 0.52, SL 0.56, PW 0.36, WL 0.80. Indices: CI 88, SI 108,0123, EPI 62, DTI 140.

Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. Anterior clypeal margin evenly shallowly concave medially. Posterior margin of head in full-face view more or less transverse, shallowly concave when tilted forward slightly from full-face view. Eyes of moderate size and located well in front of the midlength; in full-face view their outer margins fail to touch the outline of the sides. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and declivity of propodeum entirely lack setae. Propodeal dorsum approximately flat in profile and meets the declivity through a blunted angle; straight-line length of dorsum distinctly greater than depth of declivity to the spiracle. Gastral tergites 1 - 2 each with a single pair of setae; gastral tergites 3 - 4 each with 2 - 3 pairs of setae present, those on the fourth tergite the longest on the gaster (see notes below). Head, mesosoma, petiole, gaster and legs yellow.

Other worker. TL 2.4 - 2.7, HL 0.58 - 0.64, HW 0.52 - 0.56, SL 0.56 - 0.60, PW 0.34 - 0.37, WL 0.77 - 0.86 (15 measured). Indices: Cl 87 - 91, SI 104 - 109, OI 23 - 25, EPI 62 - 69, DTI 140 - 149.

As holotype but degree of concavity of posterior margin of head is variable, from more or less transverse to shallowly concave medially. The number of gastral setae is variable. Often no setae (or their pits) can be detected on gastral tergite 1 and sometimes the same applies to tergite 2. Gastral tergite 3 always has at least 1 distinct pair (usually 2) and tergite 4 always has 2 - 3 pairs, with very distinct pits. Some of this may be the result of abrasion but most appears to be natural variation. The specimens from Andranobe mentioned below (2 workers only) have two distinct pairs of setae on the second gastral tergite and a less concave median clypeal margin than is seen in most of the type-series.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Antsiranana, Ampasindava, Ambilanivy, 3.9 km. 181° S Ambaliha, 600 m., 13°48'S, 48°10'E, 4-9.iii.2001, ex dead twig above ground, rainforest, CASENT 0439766-3290 (BL Fisher et al.) (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes. 9 workers with same data but CASENT numbers 0439761-3273, 0439762- 3273, 0439764-3290, 0439767- 3290, 0439768-3290 (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.