Plagiolepis exigua
| Plagiolepis exigua | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Plagiolepidini |
| Genus: | Plagiolepis |
| Species: | P. exigua |
| Binomial name | |
| Plagiolepis exigua Forel, 1894
| |
| Subspecies | |
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Identification
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Forel mentioned that the scapes of this species reach posterior margin of head, but the scapes fail to reach the margin in the syntype. In addition, he gave the funiculus segments 2-5 x broader than long. On the syntype the fifth segment is as long as or little longer than broad.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Arab Emirates.
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Seychelles.
Oriental Region: India (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: China.
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Biology
Castes
Worker
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Queen
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Male
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.
- exigua. Plagiolepis exigua Forel, 1894c: 417 (w.q.) INDIA. Viehmeyer, 1916a: 145 (m.). See also: Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2011: 206. Current subspecies: nominal plus quadrimaculata.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Syntype. TL 1.23, HL 0.36, HW 0.31, SL 0.26, EL 0.06, PRW 0.20, ML 0.35, SI 84, CI 86.
Mesosoma, legs, antennae, clypeus and mandibles yellow, head and gaster pale yellowish brown, the latter with a more or less longitudinal median yellowish band that interrupt the brownish tergites. Smooth and shining. Head oval, longer than broad with convex sides, nearly as broad anteriorly as posteriorly. Eyes situated in the anterior third of head sides and with 6 ommatidia in the longest row (EL 0.19 x HW). Anterior clypeal margin convex and without carinae. Scapes fail to reach the posterior margin of head. Second funicular segment distinctly shorter than third. Funicular segments 2-4 broader than long, the fifth funicular segment as long as or little longer than broad. Occiput feebly concave. Mesosoma compact, short with convex pronotum and mesonotum and distinct mesonotal and metanotal grooves. Basal face of propodeum short, while its descending face long. Pubescence yellow, fine and regularly distributed over whole body. Very few erect hairs except on anterior of clypeus.
Type Material
Sharaf et al. (2011) - Syntype worker, India, Poona (Wroughton), (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].
- Syntype, uncertain, India, India, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
References
- Forel, A. 1894c. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part IV. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 8:396-420. (page 417, worker, queen described)
- Sharaf, M., Aldawood, A. and Taylor, B. 2011 The formicine ant genus Plagiolepis Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of two new species. Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 137:(1+2) 203-215.
- Viehmeyer, H. 1916a [1915]. Ameisen von Singapore. Beobachtet und gesammelt von H. Overbeck. Arch. Naturgesch. A. 81(8):108-168. (page 145, male described)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922k. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. IX. A synonymic list of the ants of the Malagasy region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45:1005-1055.
- Wilson, E. O.; Taylor, R. W. 1967b. The ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pac. Insects Monogr. 14:1-109.
