Trachymyrmex septentrionalis
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Attini |
Genus: | Trachymyrmex |
Species: | T. septentrionalis |
Binomial name | |
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (McCook, 1881) | |
Synonyms | |
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In suitable habitats, typically semi-open vegetation types occurring on sandy soil, this ant can be locally abundant. In such areas, the conspicuous crescent-shaped soil mound found around their ground nest entrances occur in high densities.
Photo Gallery
Identification
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is disturbingly similar to the allopatric Trachymyrmex carinatus, but separable by the characters given in the key and by their non-overlapping distributions; carinatus occurs only in the desert southwest, septentrionalis occurs in Texas and the states north and east of there. Molecular evidence suggests the similarity is convergent. It is likely that collections identified in the literature as T. septentrionalis from Durango, Mexico may actually represent T. carinatus (Rojas-Fernandez 1994). Solely considering the publication date, Oecodoma virginiana Buckley (1867) would have seniority over McCook’s (1881) Atta septentrionalis. But since Buckley’s species description is insufficiently detailed to either recognize T. septentrionalis or distinguish between septentrionalis and its congeners, Wheeler (1902) proposed Oocodoma virginiana Buckley to be a junior synonym of Atta septentrionalis McCook. We agree with Wheeler and continue using the species name septentrionalis. Unfortunately, the locality of both types is unknown and we could not examine them. (Rabeling et al. 2007)
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis has the most extensive distribution of all attine ants in the US. It has been collected from Texas to Florida and as far north as central Illinois, southern Ohio and Long Island, New York. (Rabeling et al. 2007)
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 41.140652° to 16.863794°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.
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. |
Habitat
Like most fungus-growing ants, the distribution of T. septentrionalis is locally patchy. In part, this may be a consequence of the distribution of suitable soils. In the northern part of its range, T. septentrionalis occurs exclusively on pure sand soils in open habitats and open woodlands of the Pine Barrens. In the southern US, T. septentrionalis is abundant in a wide variety of similar oak and pine dominated habitat types, all characterized by very sandy soils and light (if any) shade. It has also occasionally been found nesting in sandy clay soils in well-developed forests with considerable shade, particularly in the southern part of its range. (Rabeling et al. 2007)
Biology
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From Rabeling et al. (2007): During periods of high nest excavation activity in spring and fall, the crescent shaped mounds of T. septentrionalis are distinctive and conspicuous (Tschinkel & Bhatkar 1974). Older colonies may have several chambers, connected by one to few tunnels and inhabit a few hundred individuals (Weber 1972). As the northernmost distributed species of Trachymyrmex, colonies of T. septentrionalis hibernate during the winter and the fungus garden assumes a dormant condition. The length of hibernation varies considerably with respect to latitude. The northernmost populations in New York and New Jersey have short active periods from early May to September, whereas Florida populations remain active during the winter, as long as temperatures exceed 18oC (Weber 1972). The army ant Neivamyrmex nigrescens and the ectatommine ant Gnamptogenys hartmani are known to raid colonies of T. septentrionalis (Cole 1939).
This species is known to remove seeds (Atchison & Lucky, 2022).
Flight Period
X | X | X | X | ||||||||
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Source: antkeeping.info.
- Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.
- Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
Life History Traits
- Queen number: monogynous (Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)
Castes
Queen
Images from AntWeb
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0102745. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA. |
Worker. Specimen code casent0102746. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- septentrionalis. Atta septentrionalis McCook, 1881a: 362 (w.) U.S.A. (New Jersey).
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: U.S.A.: New Jersey, Island Heights, N bank Tom’s River, ix.1880 (H.C. McCook or G.K. Morris).
- Type-depository: no material known to exist.
- Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 707 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 673 (l.).
- Combination in Atta (Trachymyrmex): Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 706; Forel, 1912e: 182;
- combination in Cyphomyrmex (Trachymyrmex): Emery, 1924d: 345;
- combination in Trachymyrmex: Gallardo, 1916b: 242; Creighton, 1950a: 321; Solomon, Rabeling, et al. 2019: 948.
- Subspecies of Oecodoma tardigrada: Dalla Torre, 1893: 154.
- Junior synonym of Oecodoma tardigrada Buckley: Forel, 1885a: 358; Mayr, 1886d: 442; Cresson, 1887: 259; Emery, 1895c: 329.
- Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1902f: 29; Wheeler, W.M. 1904e: 303; Wheeler, W.M. 1905f: 386; Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 706 (redescription); Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 568; Wheeler, W.M. 1911g: 245; Wheeler, W.M. 1913c: 115; Emery, 1924d: 345; Wheeler, W.M. 1932a: 12; Wesson, L.G. & Wesson, R.G. 1940: 99; Creighton, 1950a: 321; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 138; Weber, 1958b: 52; Carter, 1962a: 7 (in list); Smith, M.R. 1967: 363; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1411; Petralia & Vinson, 1980: 383; DuBois & LaBerge, 1988: 143; Deyrup, et al. 1989: 98; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Deyrup, 2003: 47; Coovert, 2005: 101; MacGown & Forster, 2005: 69; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17 (redescription); Deyrup, 2017: 155.
- Senior synonym of obscurior: Weber, 1958b: 52; Smith, M.R. 1967: 363; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1411; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Coovert, 2005: 101; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- Senior synonym of seminole: Weber, 1958b: 52; Smith, M.R. 1967: 363; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- Senior synonym of vertebrata: Creighton, 1950a: 323; Weber, 1958b: 53; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 138; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- Synonym of virginiana (nomen oblitum): Wheeler, W.M. 1902f: 29; Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 706; Emery, 1924d: 345; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1411; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17 (nomen oblitum).
- Material of the unavailable name crystallina referred here by Weber, 1958b: 53; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- Material of the unavailable name irrorata referred here by Weber, 1958b: 53; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- Distribution: U.S.A.
- obscurior. Atta (Trachymyrmex) septentrionalis var. obscurior Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 709 (w.q.) U.S.A. (Texas).
- Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated).
- Type-locality: U.S.A.: Texas, Austin (W.M. Wheeler) (by restriction of Wheeler, W.M. 1911g: 246).
- [Note: other original syntype localities: Texas, Montopolis, Milano (W.M. Wheeler), Texas, Denton (W.H. Long), Texas, Paris (A. Rucker, C.T. Brues), Florida, Miami (M. Treat, T. Pergande), Florida, Jacksonville (W.M. Wheeler).
- Type-depository: MCZC.
- Combination in Cyphomyrmex (Trachymyrmex): Emery, 1924d: 345;
- combination in Trachymyrmex: Creighton, 1950a: 324.
- Subspecies of septentrionalis: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 568; Wheeler, W.M. 1911g: 246 (redescription); Forel, 1912e: 182; Emery, 1924d: 346; Dennis, 1938: 292; Creighton, 1950a: 324; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 137.
- Junior synonym of septentrionalis: Weber, 1958b: 52; Smith, M.R. 1967: 363; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1411; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Coovert, 2005: 101; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- seminole. Atta (Trachymyrmex) septentrionalis var. seminole Smith, M.R. 1930a: 4.
- Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens, syntype males (numbers not stated).
- Type-locality: U.S.A.: Florida, Miami (W.M. Wheeler).
- Type-depositories: LACM, MCZC.
- [First available use of Atta (Trachymyrmex) septentrionalis subsp. obscurior var. seminole Wheeler, W.M. 1911g: 247 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. (Florida); unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
- As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1924d: 346; Dennis, 1938: 292; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831.
- Subspecies of septentrionalis: Creighton, 1950a: 324; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 138.
- Junior synonym of septentrionalis: Weber, 1958b: 53; Smith, M.R. 1967: 363; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Bolton, 1995b: 421; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- vertebrata. Atta (Trachymyrmex) septentrionalis var. vertebrata Wheeler, W.M. 1911g: 246 (w.q.) U.S.A. (New Jersey).
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “numerous”), 2 syntype queens.
- Type-locality: U.S.A.: New Jersey, Lakehurst (W.M. Wheeler).
- Type-depository: MCZC.
- As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1924d: 346.
- Subspecies of septentrionalis: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831.
- Junior synonym of septentrionalis: Creighton, 1950a: 323; Weber, 1958b: 53; Smith, M.R. 1958c: 138; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1412; Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
- virginiana. Oecodoma virginiana Buckley, 1867: 346 (w.) U.S.A. (Virginia).
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: U.S.A.: Virginia, nr Aquia (S.B. Buckley).
- Type-depository: no type-material known to exist.
- Status as species: Cresson, 1887: 259; Dalla Torre, 1893: 154.
- Junior synonym of septentrionalis: Wheeler, W.M. 1902f: 29; Wheeler, W.M. 1907c: 706; Emery, 1924d: 345; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 831; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1411; Bolton, 1995b: 421.
- Nomen oblitum, synonym of septentrionalis: Rabeling, et al. 2007: 17.
Type Material
- Syntype, worker(s), near Aquia, Virginia, United States; see Rabeling et al. 2007.
- Syntype, worker(s), Island Heights, Pine Barrens, New Jersey, United States; see Rabeling et al. 2007.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Diagnosis from Rabeling et al. (2007): HL 0.84–0.96, HW 0.88–1.0, CI 104–105, SL 0.84–0.96, SI 96, ML 1.12–1.32. A relatively small (HL 0.84–0.96, HW 0.88–1.0), conspicuously tuberculate species with normally proportioned legs and antennal scapes (SI 96). Head slightly broader than long (CI 104–105), sides subparallel behind the eyes, gradually tapering anteriorly between the eyes and the mandibular insertion. Posterior margin moderately concave. Preocular carinae long, traversing 2/3 to 3⁄4 of the distance between the eye and the frontal carina but not nearly touching the frontal carinae. In full-face view, frontal lobes rounded or subtriangular, usually somewhat asymmetric, with the anterior side longer than the posterior. Anterolateral promesonotal teeth well- developed, thin, sharply pointed in dorsal view, projecting somewhat upward as well as horizontally. Anterior median pronotal tubercles upright, toothlike in posterior view. Propodeal teeth usually longer than the distance separating their bases, often spinelike, pointed. Posterior margin of head, mesonotal dorsum, dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole and gaster conspicuously tuberculate, tuberculi largest particularly on posterior corners of head and on the first gastric tergite. Color brownish yellow to medium reddish-brown.
Queen
Diagnosis from Rabeling et al. (2007): HL 1.05–1.2, HW 1.1–1.25, CI 104–107, SL 1.05–1.15, SI 96–100, ML 1.55–1.85. As in worker diagnosis, but with caste-specific morphology the mesosoma related to wing-bearing. Dorsolateral pronotal teeth variable in size, but sharply triangulate in dorsal view, often blunt in anterior view. Ventrolateral pronotal teeth variable, but generally lobelike. Mesoscutum coarsely, longitudinally rugulose, finely tuberculate, tuberculi with short, sharply recurved hairs. First gastric tergite with numerous small tubercles bearing short, recurved, decumbent, recurved setae.
Male
Diagnosis from Rabeling et al. (2007): HL 0.75, HW 0.8–0.9, CI 100–107, SL 0.9–1.1, SI 113–122, ML 1.5–1.85. In frontal view, posterior corners of the head angulate, angles formed by short, tuberculate ridges best seen in dorsal view; ocelli small and inconspicuous. Dorsoventral pronotal teeth, short, sharp, triangulate in dorsal view; ventrolateral teeth short, triangular or lobelike. Sculpture of mesoscutum coarse, irregular, rugulose, sometimes weakly longitudinal. Tuberculi generally absent (miniscule, if present) on first gastric tergite.
Karyotype
- See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.
- Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
- n = 10, 2n = 20, karyotype = 20M (Panama) (Murakami et al., 1998; Micolino et al., 2020).
Etymology
McCook (1881) described the worker of T. septentrionalis based on material collected from Island Heights in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The species name septentrionalis refers to the seven plowing oxen, the brightest stars of the Great Bear constellation, which dominate the skies of the northern hemisphere. Thus, septentrionalis loosely translates to “northern” in the context of North American fungus-growing ants. (Rabeling et al. 2007).
Worker Morphology
- Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
- Caste: monomorphic
References
- Adams, R.M.M., Jones, T.H., Jeter, A.W. 2010. Male specific tyramids from three additional myrmicine genera. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 38 454–456 (doi:10.1016j.bse.2010.03.008).
- Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
- Atchison, R. A., Lucky, A. 2022. Diversity and resilience of seed-removing ant species in Longleaf Sandhill to frequent fire. Diversity 14, 1012 (doi:10.3390/d14121012).
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- Cardoso, D. C., Cristiano, M. P. 2021. Karyotype diversity, mode, and tempo of the chromosomal evolution of Attina (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini): Is there an upper limit to chromosome number? Insects 1212, 1084 (doi:10.3390/insects12121084).
- Cardoso, D.C., Heinze, J., Moura, M.N., Cristiano, M.P. 2018. Chromosomal variation among populations of a fungus-farming ant: implications for karyotype evolution and potential restriction to gene flow. BMC Evolutionary Biology 18, 146 (doi:10.1186/s12862-018-1247-5).
- Carroll, T.M. 2011. The ants of Indiana (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). M.S. thesis, Purdue University.
- Cole, A. C. (1939) The life history of a fungus-growing ant of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Lloydia, 2, 153–160.
- Creighton, W. S. 1950a. The ants of North America. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 104: 1-585 (page 323, Senior synonym of vertebrata)
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- Forel, A. 1912f. Formicides néotropiques. Part II. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae Lep. (Attini, Dacetii, Cryptocerini). Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 19: 179-209 (page 182, Combination in Atta (Trachymyrmex))
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- McCook, H. C. 1881a [1880]. Note on a new northern cutting ant, Atta septentrionalis. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 32: 359-363 (page 362, worker described)
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- Smith, D. R. 1979. Superfamily Formicoidea. Pp. 1323-1467 in: Krombein, K. V., Hurd, P. D., Smith, D. R., Burks, B. D. (eds.) Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Volume 2. Apocrita (Aculeata). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Pr (page 1411, see also)
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- Wheeler, W. M. 1907d. The fungus-growing ants of North America. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 23: 669-807 (page 707, queen, male described)
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References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
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