Eurhopalothrix procera

Eurhopalothrix procera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Eurhopalothrix
Species:	E. procera
Binomial name
	Eurhopalothrix procera; (Emery, 1897) Specimen labels
Synonyms
	Rhopalothrix angulinodis Stitz, 1925; Rhopalothrix borneensis Wheeler, W.M., 1919; Rhopalothrix kokodensis Donisthorpe, 1936; Rhopalothrix manni Menozzi, 1923; Rhopalothrix procera ballionii Forel, 1904; Rhopalothrix procera malua Mann, 1919; Rhopalothrix procera samoana Santschi, 1928; Rhopalothrix subdentatus Donisthorpe, 1942;

Longino (2013): A single alate queen from La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica closely matches E. procera, based on literature descriptions and images on AntWeb. The specimen was obtained in a canopy fogging sample in October, 1994, as part of a large-scale arthropod survey project. In spite of intensive sampling for ants at this site (Longino et al., 2002), no other specimens were collected, and this single queen remains the only known specimen of E. procera from the New World. This is remarkable, because E. procera is a polytypic species found in New Guinea and multiple Pacific islands west of New Guinea (Brown and Kempf, 1960; Taylor, 1968, 1980; AntWeb, 2013), and related species also occur in this region (Taylor, 1968, 1970, 1980). Taylor (1980) describes E. procera as "Widespread in rain forest and marginal habitats; East Indies, Philippines, Melanesia, Polynesia east to the Samoan Islands, and Cape York Peninsula ..." Its occurrence on multiple oceanic islands and in marginal habitats suggests a high dispersal ability and raises the possibility that it is an adventive species in Costa Rica. Alternatively, it may be a relict lineage with a rare Neotropical representative.

Identification

Eurhopalothrix procera has the double tooth row found in Eurhopalothrix gravis and relatives. The double tooth row is visible on the La Selva queen and on the AntWeb image of a queen from the Philippines (Holotype of E. procera subdentatus [Donisthorpe, 1942], a junior synonym of E. procera). It is unknown whether other species in the procera group also have the double tooth row. Cursory examination of the three Old World species Eurhopalothrix australis, Eurhopalothrix dubia, and Eurhopalothrix omnivaga showed that these species lack the double tooth row.

The labrum of the La Selva queen is elongate, triangular, with two small lobes at the apex. The labrum is visible on the image of the E. procera subdentatus holotype, and appears similar. The La Selva queen is smaller and with narrower head than other known E. procera queens. Brown and Kempf (1960) report worker HW 0.98–1.35 and CI 106–111, with queens being the same as or slightly larger than workers. The La Selva queen has HW 0.91 and CI 95.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 7.52025° to -17.90798°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia.
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Palau, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands.
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica.

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

Explore Overview of Eurhopalothrix biology

Little is known about the biology of most species in this genus. Nests are rarely found, and queens and males have not been collected for many species. Longino (2013) summarized their biology "Eurhopalothrix specimens are encountered almost exclusively in samples from mass extraction techniques that recover small arthropods in sifted litter, rotten wood, and soil. Densities, at least in the northern Neotropics, are usually low, with workers occurring in < 10% of quantitative samples of 1 m2 litter plots, but occasionally may reach densities as high as 40% of samples. Live colonies of Old World Eurhopalothrix were observed by Wilson (1956) and Wilson and Brown (1984), and a Costa Rican colony of Basiceros manni was observed by Wilson and Hölldobler (1986). All basicerotines, including Eurhopalothrix, are thought to be predators in tropical leaf litter, relying on stealth or sit-and-wait techniques. Sampled specimens are often coated with a thin layer of clay, especially on the face, which is thought to function as camouflage, enhancing crypsis (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1986). Highly specialized spatulate setae may be instrumental in acquisition and adherence of the clay layer (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1986)."

‎

Castes

Worker


.	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Images from AntWeb


Worker. Specimen code casent0172465. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.


Worker. Specimen code casent0178455. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by BNM, Koror, Palau.

Queen


.	Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Nomenclature

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

procera. Rhopalothrix procera Emery, 1897c: 572, pl. 14, fig. 18 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in Eurhopalothrix: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225. Senior synonym of angulinodis, ballionii, borneensis, kokodensis, malua, manni, samoana, subdentatus and material of the unavailable name melanotica referred here: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
ballionii. Rhopalothrix procera var. ballionii Forel, 1904d: 175 (w.) INDONESIA (Morotai I.). Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
borneensis. Rhopalothrix borneensis Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 96 (q.) BORNEO. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
malua. Rhopalothrix procera subsp. malua Mann, 1919: 358, figs. 36-38 (w.q.m.) SOLOMON IS. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
manni. Rhopalothrix manni Menozzi, 1923b: 210, fig. 2 (w.) PHILIPPINES. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
angulinodis. Rhopalothrix angulinodis Stitz, 1925: 122 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Palawan I.). Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
samoana. Rhopalothrix procera st. samoana Santschi, 1928a: 51, fig. 5 (w.m.) SAMOA. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
kokodensis. Rhopalothrix (Rhopalothrix) kokodensis Donisthorpe, 1936e: 524 (q.m.) NEW GUINEA. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.
subdentatus. Rhopalothrix (Rhopalothrix) subdentatus Donisthorpe, 1942b: 67 (q.) PHILIPPINES. Junior synonym of procera: Brown & Kempf, 1960: 225.

Type Material

Rhopalothrix procera: Syntype, worker(s), queen(s), Aitape (as Berlinhafen), Seleo Island and Madang (as Friedrich-Wilhemshafen), New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa.

Description

Worker

Brown & Kempf (1960) - TL 3.9-5.3, HL 0.92-1.27, HW 0.98-1.35 (CI 106-111), scape L 0.51-0.78, greatest diameter of eye 0.07-0.10, WL 1.07-1.43 mm; based on 44 workers from all parts of the range.

Except for Eurhopalothrix emeryi, this is the largest species of the genus. The form of head and alitrunk are shown in the figrue. The occiput, alitrunk, both nodes and gastric dorsum with a more or less distinct, but shallow and broad, median longitudinal sulcus, in which pilosity is weak or absent.

Petiolar node cuboidal, about as broad as long when seen from above. Postpetiole large, a little more than twice as wide as petiolar node and about 3/4 as wide as gaster, but only about 1/3 broader than long; posteriorly with a strong median emargination, on each side of which is a low, blunt eminence or lobe.

The pilosity varies considerably, but the pair of erect clavate or spatulate hairs on the paired eminences of the vertex is constant, as is the pair of clavate hairs on the paired pronotal (humeral) eminences, and the circlets of small clavate hairs on the apical segments of the gaster. Erect clavate hairs on the gaster 0-10; when present arranged in two longitudinal rows; the- more posterior hairs are the most persistent ones in the course of evolutionary reduction of the pilosity. Subappressed spatulate ground pilosity usually best developed on clypeus, scapes, legs and humeri, obsolescent to well developed and abundant elsewhere, according to geographic locality. Sculpture also varying widely geographically, from coarsely and densely rugulose punctate to lightly shagreened-punctate and shining. Color ferruginous to dark reddish-brown.

Queen

Brown & Kempf (1960) - With the usual caste differences; head measurements usually the same as, or slightly greater than, those of the large workers from the same nest series; largest females seen (from the Philippines) measure HW 1.30 and 1.33 mm. The New Guinea females may be a little larger proportionate to their workers, according to the figures of previous authors. Forewing L (3 Philippines specimens) 4.6-5.0 mm (1 specimen from Santa Cruz Islands) 4.2 mm. For wing venation, see under male, below). Mesonotum with a few erect truncate hairs.

Male

Brown & Kempf (1960) - TL 3.5-4.2, HL 0.68-0.87, HW 0.68-0.78, WL 1.08-1.31 mm. Greatest diameter of compound eye 0.25-0.27, forewing L 3.3-4.3 mm.

A male of the Solomons Islands populations ("subsp. malua") is described by Mann (loc. cit.), and the figure with Mann's description will serve for this caste if the considerable variation of males in this species is borne in mind, and if a few corrections are made. Actually, the scape and first funicular segment are stouter than as shown, the ocelli are larger, and the petiolar node is a little higher and more definitely cuboidal. Mann describes the anteroventral process of the petiolar peduncle as " long and slender", although it is not shown in his figure. The process is as Mann says it is in two of his Solomons samples (San Cristoval and Isabel), but is vestigial in a male from Kokoda, Papua, and is absent in one from Babelthuap in the Palau Group.

The mandibles are triangular, barely opposable, with rounded basal angle and nearly or quite unarmed masticatory border terminating in an acute apical angle or tooth. Forewing of the type or Creightonidris, but more reduced ; M+Rs and the free apical abscissae of Rs, M and Cu absent or reduced to faint traces. The female venation is similar, except that the Rs, though very weak, may reach the wing margin.

On the head there are 2 or 3 pairs of slender erect truncate hairs on the ocellar eminence and other slender hairs elsewhere, especially on the mandibles and gula. Several long erect truncate hairs on each occipital angle in the Solomons specimens, 2-3 on each angle in the Kokoda, Papua, specimen, and none on the angles in the Babelthuap specimen. The alitruncal dorsum has sparse, long, curved, tapered hairs, and the gastric apex has slender clavate or truncate hairs. The largest specimen seen (Kokoda, Papua) has HL 0.87 mm, and the sculpture is coarse. The Babelthuap specimen is smallest (HL 0.68 mm), but has a relatively broad head (HW 0.68 mm), and the postpetiole and gastric dorsum are shining. Color deep reddish-brown to blackish-brown, the head darkest.

References

Donisthorpe, H. 1936f. Five new species of ant (Formicidae) from various localities. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 10(18): 524-530.
Donisthorpe, H. 1942b. Descriptions of a few ants from the Philippine Islands, and a male of Polyrhachis bihamata Drury from India. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(9): 64-72.
Brown, W. L., Jr.; Kempf, W. W. 1960. A world revision of the ant tribe Basicerotini. Stud. Entomol. (n.s.) 3: 161-250 (page 225, Combination in Eurhopalothrix, senior synonym of angulinodis, ballionii, borneensis, kokodensis, malua, manni, samoana, subdentatus, and material of the unavailable name melanotica referred here)
Emery, C. 1897c. Formicidarum species novae vel minus cognitae in collectione Musaei Nationalis Hungarici quas in Nova-Guinea, colonia germanica, collegit L. Biró. Természetr. Füz. 20: 571-599. (page 572, pl. 14, fig. 18 worker, queen described)
Longino J. T. 2013. A review of the Central American and Caribbean species of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown and Kempf, 1961 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a key to New World species. Zootaxa 3693: 101-151 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3693.2.1).
Moura, M.N., Cardoso, D.C., Cristiano, M.P. 2020. The tight genome size of ants: diversity and evolution under ancestral state reconstruction and base composition. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlaa135 (doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa135).
Wang, C., Lin, C.-C., Keller, R.A., Billen, J. 2021. The ‘hairwheels’ in Strumigenys ants are not glandular. Asian Myrmecology 13: e013004 (doi:10.20362/am.013004).
Wang, W.Y., Soh, E.J.Y., Yong, G.W.J., Wong, M.K.L., Benoit Guénard, Economo, E.P., Yamane, S. 2022. Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy. Asian Myrmecology 15: e015006 (doi:10.20362/am.015006).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Brown W. L., Jr., and W. W. Kempf. 1960. A world revision of the ant tribe Basicerotini. Stud. Entomol. (n.s.) 3: 161-250.
CSIRO Collection
Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Clouse R. M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Micronesica. 39: 171-295.
Clouse, R.M. 2007. The ants of Micronesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Micronesica 39(2): 171-295.
Dlussky G.M. 1994. Zoogeography of southwestern Oceania. Zhivotnoe naselenie ostrovov Iugo-Zapadnoi Okeanii ekologo-geograficheskie issledovanii 48-93.
Donisthorpe H. 1936. Five new species of ant (Formicidae) from various localities. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (10)18: 524-530.
Donisthorpe H. 1939. Descriptions of several species of ants (Hymenopt.) taken by Dr. O. W. Richards in British Guiana. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London. Series B 8: 152-154.
Donisthorpe H. 1942. Descriptions of a few ants from the Philippine Islands, and a male of Polyrhachis bihamata Drury from India. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (11)9: 64-72.
Donisthorpe H. 1948. A fourth instalment of the Ross Collection of ants from New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (12)1: 131-143.
Donisthorpe H. 1948. A second instalment of the Ross Collection of ants from New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (11)14: 297-317.
Donisthorpe H. 1949. A fifth instalment of the Ross Collection of ants from New Guinea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (12)1: 487-506.
Emery C. 1897. Formicidarum species novae vel minus cognitae in collectione Musaei Nationalis Hungarici quas in Nova-Guinea, colonia germanica, collegit L. Biró. Természetrajzi Füzetek 20: 571-599.
Field Museum Collection, Chicago, Illinois (C. Moreau)
Forel A. 1904. Fourmis du Musée de Bruxelles. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 48: 168-177.
General D. M., and G. D. Alpert. 2012. A synoptic review of the ant genera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Philippines. Zookeys 200: 1-111.
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
Kami K.S., and S. E. Miller. 1998. Samoan insects and related arthropods: checklist and bibliography. Bishop Museum Technical Report 13, pp 121.
Kami KS & Miller SE. 1998. Samoan insects and related arthropods: checklist and bibliography. Bishop Museum Technical Report No. 13.
Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
Longino J. T. 2013. A review of the Central American and Caribbean species of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown and Kempf, 1961 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a key to New World species. Zootaxa 3693(2): 101-151.
Mann W. M. 1919. The ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 63:273-391.
Mann William. 1916. The Ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 63(7): 273-391
Mann, W.M. 1919. The ants of the British Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard College 63: 273-391
Menozzi C. 1923. Trois fourmis nouvelles (Hym.). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France. 1923: 209-212.
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
Room P. M. 1975. Diversity and organization of the ground foraging ant faunas of forest, grassland and tree crops in Papua Nez Guinea. Aust. J. Zool. 23: 71-89.
Santschi F. 1928. Formicidae (Fourmis). Insects Samoa. 5: 41-58.
Snelling R. R. 2000. Ants of the Wapoga river area, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. In Mack, Andrew L. and Leeanne E. Alonso (eds.). 2000. A Biological Assessment of the Wapoga River Area of Northwestern Irian Jaya, Indonesia. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 14, Conservation International, Washington, DC.
Stitz H. 1925. Ameisen von den Philippinen, den malayischen und ozeanischen Inseln. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1923: 110-136.
Taylor R. W. 1968. Notes on the Indo-Australian basicerotine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 16: 333-348.
Taylor R. W. 1980. Australian and Melanesian ants of the genus Eurhopalothrix Brown and Kempf - notes and new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 19: 229-239.
Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.
Wetterer, James K. and Vargo, Donald Vargo L. 2003. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Samoa. Pacific Science. 57(4):409-419.
Wheeler W. M. 1919. The ants of Borneo. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 63:43-147.
Wheeler W.M. 1935. Check list of the ants of Oceania. Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum 11(11):1-56.
Wheeler, William Morton.1935.Checklist of the Ants of Oceania.Occasional Papers 11(11): 3-56
Wilson E. O.; Taylor, R. W. 1967. The ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pacific Insects Monograph 14:1-109.
Wilson EO, Hunt GL. 1967. Ant fauna of Futuna and Wallis Islands, stepping stones to Polynesia. Pacific Insects 9.4: 563-584.
Wilson EO, Taylor RW. 1967. The ants of Polynesia. Pacific Insects Monograph 14:1-109.
Wilson, Edward O. and George L. Hunt. 1967. Ant Fauna of Futuna and Wallis Islands, Stepping Stones To Polynesia. Pacific Insects. 9(4):563-584.
Wilson, Edward O. and Hunt, George L. Jr. 1967. Ant Fauna of Futuna and Wallis Islands, Stepping Stones to Polynesia. Pacific Insects. 9(4):563-584