Trichomyrmex emeryi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Trichomyrmex emeryi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Trichomyrmex
Species group: destructor
Species: T. emeryi
Binomial name
Trichomyrmex emeryi
(Mayr, 1895)

Monomorium emeryi casent0908727 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium emeryi casent0908727 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Subspecies

Identification

Bolton (1987):

Worker. TL 2.5-3.4, HL 0.68-0.88, HW 0.62-0.80, CI 89-95, SL 0.52-0.67, SI 78-86, PW 0.36-0.50, AL 0.70-1.00 (20 measured). Mandibles conspicuously longitudinally rugulose to striate-rugulose, the basal tooth reduced to a minute denticle. Eyes relatively small, the maximum diameter 0.16-0.20 x HW and with 6-7 ommatidia in the longest row. Occipital margin in full-face view shallowly concave and somewhat indented medially. Head relatively broad and scapes short (CI and SI above). Promesonotum evenly domed-convex in profile, the metanotal groove shallowly impressed and the propodeal dorsum flat to very feebly convex. Propodeal dorsum on a much lower level than that of promesonotum. Petiole peduncle with an anteroventral low rim or flange. Usually this process runs back approximately to the level of the petiolar spiracle but may be reduced in some workers.

Head without elongate standing hairs dorsally behind the level of the frontal lobes, but quite densely clothed with long decumbent to appressed pubescence which is directed towards the dorsal midline. Similar long pubescence present on all surfaces of dorsal alitrunk but also with much longer conspicuous standing hairs present both on promesonotum and propodeum. Long back-curved hairs numerous on petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite and sternite; all these segments also with elongate but relatively sparse pubescence which is decumbent to appressed.

Entire dorsum of head densely longitudinally costulate to rugulose, the sculpture usually quite regular and always with fairly conspicuous punctures visible between the longitudinal components. On sides of head the sculpture tends to fade out or become much less dense below and behind the eyes. Dorsal alitrunk reticulate-punctate, this sculpture overlaid by fine rugular or costulate sculpture which may vary in density and direction on the promesonotum even in members of a single nest-series, but is always transverse on the propodeal dorsum. Sides of alitrunk with rugular or costulate sciilpture usually also present on the pronotum, metapleuron and propodeum. Punctate component sometimes reduced on sides of pronotum so that only faint longitudinal rugulae remain. Rugulae sometimes absent from metapleuron and propodeal sides, leaving the area reticulate-punctate. Petiole and postpetiole generally smooth dorsally but with lateral sculptural vestiges remaining. First gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair-pits. Colour light to dark brown, usually uniform.

This distinctive heavily sculptured species shows very little size variation in any given series and the marked allometric variation characteristic of oscaris does not occur. The form and density of the sculpture immediately isolates emeryi from all other members of the destructor-group.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -3.5° to -31.4°.

   
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique (type locality), Zimbabwe.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • emeryi. Monomorium emeryi Mayr, 1895: 132 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Mozambique: (no further data) (H. Brauns).
    • Type-depository: NHMW.
    • Arnold, 1916: 213 (q.m.).
    • Combination in M. (Parholcomyrmex): Arnold, 1944: 13;
    • combination in Trichomyrmex: Ward, et al. 2015: 76.
    • Status as species: Mayr, 1897: 427; Forel, 1903a: 687; Forel, 1913a: 136; Arnold, 1916: 212; Emery, 1922e: 176; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 863; Arnold, 1944: 13; Prins, 1963: 103; Ettershank, 1966: 88; Bolton, 1987: 325 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261.
    • Distribution: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
    • Current subspecies: nominal plus laevior.

Description

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
  • Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
  • IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
  • Prins A. J. 1964. Revised list of the ants collected in the Kruger National Park. Koedoe 7: 77-93.
Retrieved from "https://antwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Trichomyrmex_emeryi&oldid=725565"