.jpg){kind=logo}
Diplomorium longipenne
| Diplomorium longipenne | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Diplomorium |
| Species: | D. longipenne |
| Binomial name | |
| Diplomorium longipenne Mayr, 1901
| |
Nothing is known of the biology of this species except that it nests under stones in the ground and has been found with Messor capensis. It is not known if this represents some sort of relationship between the two species or if they were merely nesting in the same site. (Bolton 1987)
Identification
Bolton (1987) - In the past a number of Monomorium species which have 11-segmented antennae have been misidentified as Diplomorium. The following table gives characters which separate the two genera.
Diplomorium - Workers. Median portion of clypeus swollen and evenly transversely convex. Median portion of clypeus lacking longitudinal carinae. Postpetiole in profile enlarged , more voluminous than petiole. Postpetiole very broadly attached to gaster. Females. As above and also with the following. Anterior clypeal margin triangular, coming to a point medially. Propodeal spiracle D-shaped.
Monomorium - Workers. Median portion of clypeus suddenly raised, not evenly transversely convex. Median portion of clypeus longitudinally bicarinate, usually distinctly so but sometimes the carinae reduced. Postpetiole in profile moderate, usually smaller than petiole, sometimes about same size. Postpetiole narrowly attached to gaster. Anterior clypeal margin not triangular, not coming to a point medially. Propodeal spiracle usually round, rarely otherwise.
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -34.18408° to -34.18408°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality).
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. |
|
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. |
|
Biology
Castes
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
| |
| Syntype of Diplomorium longipenne. Worker. Specimen code casent0102360. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
|
| |
| Syntype of Diplomorium longipenne. Worker. Specimen code casent0102360. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
    
| |
| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0178564. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- longipenne. Diplomorium longipenne Mayr, 1901b: 18 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA.
- Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated).
- Type-locality: South Africa: Cape Prov., Port Elizabeth (H. Brauns).
- Type-depositories: BMNH, NHMW.
- Status as species: Arnold, 1916: 240; Emery, 1922e: 194; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 877; Ettershank, 1966: 100; Bolton, 1987: 278; Bolton, 1995b: 171.
- Distribution: South Africa.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Lange 1.8-1.9 mm. Hellbraun, die Mandibeln und Tarsen gewohnlich heller. Am Kopfe, am Thorax, am Petiolus und am Bauche findet sich eine sparliche, aus mittellangen Haaren bestehende Pilositat, an der Oberseite des Kopfes ist uberdies eine reichlichere und viel kurzere solche Behaarung, an den Fuhlern und Beinen finden sich ziemlich reichlich kurze, schief abstehende Haare.
Der Karper ist poliert und stark glanzend, die Mandibeln sind theilweise etwas langsgerunzelt und mit zerstreuten haartragenden Punkten besetzt, der Kopf mit zerstreuten haartragenden Punkten, die Seiten des Mesothorax scharf genetzt-punktiert.
Bolton (1987) - Monomorphic myrmicine ants with some size variation but lacking allometric variation. Palp formula 2,2. Mandibles usually with 4 teeth but 5 may be present in largest workers; mandibles overlap at full closure but do not cross over. Trulleum small and closed. Eyes present and conspicuous, in front of the midlength of the sides in full-face view. Median portion of clypeus not suddenly raised, instead swollen and evenly broadly transversely convex, lacking longitudinal carinae. Posteriorly the median portion of the clypeus broad and broadly inserted between the widely separated frontal lobes, the clypeus between the lobes broader than either of them. Antennae 11-segmented, with a weakly 3-segmented club. The basal club segment (eighth funicular) much smaller than the other two but still distinctly larger than the seventh funicular segment. Promesonotum convex, not flat. Metanotal groove impressed. Metapleural glands large and distinct. Propodeal spiracle small and round, situated low on the side, at about the midlength of the sclerite or just behind the midlength. Petiole nodiform, subpetiolar process present as a narrow cuticular strip. Postpetiole enlarged, in profile more voluminous than the petiole, in dorsal view very broadly attached to the gaster. Sting strong and obviously functional.
Queen
Weibchen. Lange 9.5-10 mm. Stark glanzend und hellbraun. Die schief abstehende Behaarung ist massig reichlich, an den Beinen viel reichlicher; die anliegende Pubescenz fehlt am Kopfe und am Thorax, am Bauche ist sie sparlich, an der Unterseite des zweiten Petiolussegmentes findet sich eine sehr dichte, massig kurze, abstehende Behaarung, ahnlich so wie an der Unterseite des ersten Petiolussegmentes des Soldaten von Pheidole fimbriata Rog.
Die Mandibeln sind grab langsgestreift und mit tiefen Punkten zerstreut besetzt. Der Clypeus ist in der Mitte poliert, seitlich quergerunzelt; die Wangen und die innere Begrenzung der Netzaugen langsgestreift, Stirn und Scheitel mit groben, eingesenkten, haartragenden Punkten zerstreut besetzt, mit glatten Zwischenraumen. Der Mitteltheil des Pronotum mit harchentragenden Punkten reichlich besetzt, das Mesonotum und Scutellum poliert, mit wenigen haartragenden Punkten, die Seiten des Pronotum und die Pleuren des Mesothorax poliert; die concaven Seiten des Scutellum, das Metanotum (Postscutellum), die Seiten des Metathorax und das Mittelsegment mehr oder weniger streifig gerunzelt und das letztere auch reichlich mit Punkten besetzt, aus d enen kurze, aufrechte Harchen entspringen. Aehnlich so ist auch die fein gerunzelte und punktierte obere vordere Flache des ersten Petiolusgliedes behaart, das zweite Glied ist an der Oberseite poliert, mit einzelnen haartragenden Punkten, nur vorne ist es fein runzeligpunktiert und mit einer anliegenden Pubescenz besetzt. Der im Durchschnitte 4 mm lange und 2.8 mm breite Bauch ist poliert mit wenigen haartragenden Punkten.
Die Vorderflugel sind sehr schwach graugelb getrubt, mit braunlichgelben Rippen und Pterostigma, sie sind im Mittel 13 mm lang und 3.4 mm breit.
Bolton (1987) - Enormously larger than the conspecific worker, head relatively small in comparison to body size (HW 1.54, maximum width of mesoscutum 2.02). Palp formula 2,2. Mandible with 4 teeth, sometimes an additional denticle between teeth 2 and 3. Anterior clypeal margin unarmed,triangular and projecting as a point medially, overhanging the mandibles. Median portion of clypeus evenly curved and transversely convex, not suddenly raised medially and lacking longitudinal carinae. Clypeus posteriorly broadly inserted between the frontal lobes, the outer margins of the latter evenly shallowly convex, not pinched in posteriorly. Eyes large and close to midlength of sides. Antennae 11-segmented, with an apical club of 3 segments. Mesothoracic axillae large, subtriangular , widely separated on dorsum. Mesoscutum and scutellum separated by a broad impression between the axillae. Metapleural glands conspicuous, the orifice with a short row of guard hairs. Propodeal spiracle D-shaped. Venation of forewing, cross-vein m-cu present. Petiole and postpetiole shaped, the petiolar peduncle with a conspicuous anteroventral process. Postpetiolar semite large and distinctive in profile. In dorsal view postpetiole much broader behind than in front and broadly attached to the gaster.
Type Material
Unter Steinen in der Erde bei Port Elizabeth.
The types were found under stones in the ground in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
References
- Arnold, G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 159-270 (page 240, see also)
- Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 54: 263-452 (page 278, see also)
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
- Mayr, G. 1901b. Südafrikanische Formiciden, gesammelt von Dr. Hans Brauns. Ann. K-K. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 16: 1-30 (page 18, worker, queen described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1916. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part II. Ponerinae, Dorylinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 159-270.