Leptogenys consanguinea

Leptogenys consanguinea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	quiriguana
Species:	L. consanguinea
Binomial name
	Leptogenys consanguinea; Wheeler, W.M., 1909 Specimen labels

A collection was made in evergreen forest.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Eye weakly convex, almost flat, diameter less than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin; one mandible shuts tightly against clypeus, with other mandible leaving narrow gap in cephalic full-face view; mandible mostly parallel-sided, gradually expanding apicad, basal angle curved, dorsum smooth and shining with sparse punctate; basal margin with two setae at mid-length.

A member of the quiriguana species group. This species can be confused with Leptogenys yocota, and a number of characters that permit separation are mentioned in the discussion for L. yocota.

Keys including this Species

Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Occurs from southern Mexico to Guatemala.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 24.52827° to 17.685226°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Guatemala, Mexico (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

Explore Overview of Leptogenys biology

The biology of Leptogenys consanguinea is poorly known.

The Leptogenys genus page has more details about the general biology of ants in this genus, some of which is summarized in what follows. New World species have relatively small ranges, generally occur in humid forests and prey on isopods. Colonies may occur in high densities on a local scale, with up to 5 or 6 species present. Nest size tends to be small with just 20 or 30 individuals in a mature colony. Nests of most species may be found in rotten wood on the ground, usually within cavities in logs or large branches, and also beneath bark. Wood-soil and rock-soil interfaces are another common nesting location, as well as rock crevices, and a few species may nest directly in the soil. Reproduction is most commonly via ergatoid females and, in many species, may include egg-laying workers. ‎

Castes

Nomenclature

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

consanguinea. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) consanguinea Wheeler, W.M. 1909b: 229 (w.m.) MEXICO. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 455 (l.). See also: Lattke, 2011: 201.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 6): HL 1.06 – 1.16; HW 0.71 – 0.81; ML 0.53 – 0.63; EL 0.20 0.15 – 0.20; SL 0.99 – 1.14; PW 0.61 – 0.68; WL 1.62 – 1.92; PH 0.61 – 0.66; PL 0.53 – 0.61; DPW 0.38 – 0.43 mm. CI 0.66 – 0.70; MI 0.72 – 0.79; OI 0.19 – 0.26; SI 1.34 – 1.45; LPI 1.08 – 1.14; DPI 0.65 – 0.74.

Head subrectangular in full-face view, wider anterad than posterad; posterior margin mostly straight, lateral cephalic margin mostly very broadly convex. Anterior clypeal margin converges to triangular median lobe, median lobe broadly triangular with lamellate lateral margins, apex pointed; lateral lobe narrow, convex. Eye weakly convex, almost flat, diameter less than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin, ocular-malar margin more than one eye diameter long, ocular midpoint closer to lateral cephalic midpoint than to mandibular insertion. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by one-third its length, antennal segments II and III subequal in length, segment II almost 2 × longer than wide, flagellum mostly subcylindrical; cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining, clypeus with weak longitudinal striae medially, and sparse piligerous tubercles. One mandible shuts tightly against clypeus, with other mandible leaving narrow gap in cephalic full-face view; mandible mostly parallel-sided, gradually expanding apicad, basal angle curved, dorsum smooth and shining with sparse punctate; basal margin with 2 – 3 hairs at mid-length. Anterior surface of labrum with sparse piligerous tubercles.

Mesosoma with anterior pronotal margin convex in lateral view, posteriorly broadly convex; mesonotal margin slightly impressed below pronotal margin, posteriorly curving into broad metanotal groove; propodeal dorsal margin broadly convex, length of dorsal margin more than 2 × declivitous margin, declivity with truncate lobe. Mesometanotal suture well impressed; mesosoma mostly smooth and shining, oblique striae present on ventral meso- and metapleura. Propodeal spiracle faces posterolaterally, with broad sulcus extending from spiracle to bulla; declivity with weak transverse striae. Mesonotum wider than long in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin broadly convex, almost straight.

Petiole with brief vertical anterior margin in lateral view, dorsal margin broadly convex, posterior margin slightly sinuate, almost straight, node smooth and shining. Node longer than wide in dorsal view, trapezoid shaped with anterior margin more than half the width of posterior margin; posterior margin straight, anterior margin convex, coxae smooth and shining. Constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well marked. Mesometathorax and propodeum black; head, prothorax, petiole, and first two gastral segments irregular dark brown; clypeus, mandible, antenna, and legs ferruginous brown; gastral apex orange. Body mostly without appressed pilosity; anterior cephalic dorsum with sparse short, decumbent hairs; preapical protarsal segment with 2 pairs of setae as in preceding segments.

Queen

Lattke (2011) - Metrics: HL 1.09; HW 0.73; ML 0.53; EL 0.15; SL 1.01; PW 0.61; WL 1.59; PH 0.48; PL 0.48; DPW 0.38 mm. CI 0.67; MI 0.72; OI 0.21; SI 1.38; LPI 1.00; DPI 0.79. Closely resembles the worker except for usual differences.

Male

Lattke (2011) - Described by Wheeler (1909). Not examined.

Type Material

Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Mexico, Córdoba, Cat. No. 3–4, 20503 (F. Silvestri) (Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined]. The MCZC syntypes consist of one pin with 2 workers and another pin with a worker and a male. The male is rather battered lacking parts of the antennae, wings, most legs, besides abdominal segments IV and posterad.

References

Lattke, J.E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 69:127-264.
Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1964b. The ant larvae of the subfamily Ponerinae: supplement. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 57: 443-462 (page 455, larva described)
Wheeler, W. M. 1909b. Ants collected by Prof. F. Silvestri in Mexico. Boll. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Sc. Super. Agric. 3: 228-238 (page 229, worker, male described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133