Leptogenys cordoba

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Leptogenys cordoba
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Leptogenys
Species group: rufa
Species: L. cordoba
Binomial name
Leptogenys cordoba
Lattke, 2011

Leptogenys cordoba P.jpg

Leptogenys cordoba D.jpg

Specimen Label

A specimen collected in Apazapán, Mexico was found in an area of coffee and banana fields.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Median clypeal lobe with subparallel sides apicad, apex truncate sometimes with median denticle, sides of lobe lamellate; eye weakly convex, length not more than 6 ommatidia across, ommatidia not distinctly separated; mesometapleural suture broad, scrobiculate, widening anterad; petiolar node subquadrate in dorsal view, wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin broadly convex and more than half width of posterior margin.

A member of the rufa species group. Some specimens bear a truncate median clypeal lobe, without a denticle, and a mesometapleural suture that notably widens anterodorsad, differences evident even amongst nestmates. The mesometapleural suture may be mostly smooth and shining or (usually) with varying amounts of transverse striae or scrobiculate.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 18.903056° to 17.51518°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Explore-icon.png Explore Overview of Leptogenys biology 
The biology of Leptogenys cordoba 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

Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

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

  • cordoba. Leptogenys cordoba Lattke, 2011: 209, fig. 65 (w.) MEXICO.

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

Description

Worker

Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 4): HL 0.87 (0.85–0.90); HW 0.65 (0.60–0.67); ML 0.43 (0.38– 0.50); EL 0.10 (0.10–0.12); SL 0.70 (0.67–0.78); PW 0.52 (0.48 – 0.55); WL 1.27 (1.24 – 1.30); PH 0.50 (0.52 – 0.53); PL 0.42 (0.40 – 0.43); DPW 0.35 (0.35 – 0.38) mm. CI 0.75 (0.71–0.74); MI 0.67 (0.59–0.75); OI 0.15 (0.15 – 0.18); SI 1.08 (1.03 – 1.19); LPI 1.20 (1.19 – 1.29); DPI 0.84 (0.84 – 0.96).

Head mostly subrectangular in full-face view, wider anterad than posterad with greatest width at posterior margin of eyes; lateral margin broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin straight to weakly concave; median clypeal lobe with subparallel sides apicad, apex truncate sometimes with median denticle, sides of lobe lamellate, apical seta lacking; lateral lobe narrow, widest towards median lobe, forming blunt angle. Eye laterally placed on head, weakly convex in cephalic full-face view, length under one-fourth lateral cephalic margin, not more than 6 ommatidia across, ommatidia not distinctly separated. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by 2 apical widths, mostly smooth and shining with abundant piligerous punctulae; antenna segment II longer than segments III – IV, length of antennal segments II – IV approximately equal to width or slightly longer, each funicular segment wider apicad than basad. Mandible elongate, external and basal margins parallel, most of mandibular basal margin broadly concave, basally weakly convex, row of 2 – 3 stiff hairs present basad; basal angle shaped as blunt angle, masticatory margin short with pointed apical tooth; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae; clypeus smooth with irregular striae at base of median lobe and scattered, low, piligerous tubercles.

Dorsal pronotal margin convex anterad in lateral view, posteriorly weakly convex to straight; metanotal groove broad, well developed; dorsal propodeal margin mostly straight to weakly convex, separated from declivitous margin by blunt angle, declivity weakly convex, ending in rounded triangular lobe posterodorsad of spiracle. Propodeal spiracle oval, facing posterolaterad; shallow depression located between spiracle and propodeal lobe. Pronotum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae except for transverse striae on collar, anterodorsal pronotal surface occasionally with shallow piligerous lacunae; mesopleuron mostly smooth and shining with irregular shallow undulations, posteroventrad rugulose, anterodorsad with transverse sulcus of variable length; mesometapleural suture broad, scrobiculate, widening anterad; metapleural-propodeal suture absent; metapleuron-propodeal lateral face smooth with undulations anterad, posterad rugulose. Mesosomal dorsum smooth and shining with scattered piligerous punctae, propodeal declivity with carina uniting apex of each tooth, surface anterad of carina concave in cross-section and with transverse striae, declivity posterad of carina forms broad transverse sulcus. Prosternum smooth and shining; mesopleuron with anteroventral carina widest anterad; mesonotum 2.5 × wider than long in dorsal view, posterior margin straight, metanotal groove scrobiculate.

Petiole node subquadrate in lateral view; anterior and posterior margins vertical, anterior margin less than half the height of posterior margin; node highest posterad, dorsal margin convex, without sharp lateral edges; node mostly smooth and shining. Subpetiolar process broadly triangular in lateral view, with brief anterior convexity and long, broadly convex anteroventral margin. Node subquadrate in dorsal view, wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin broadly convex and more than half width of posterior margin, posterior margin straight to weakly convex, lateral margin straight to slightly convex. Anterior postpetiolar margin broadly convex in lateral view, dorsal margin convex, both margins forming right angle; constriction between abdominal segments III–IV well marked; gaster mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae. Body ferruginous to dark brown; mandibles, clypeus legs, and antenna brownish-yellow. Body with scattered erect and semi-erect hairs, appressed pilosity wanting. Coxae mostly smooth and shining; metacoxal dorsum with posterior rounded crest basad; pro- and metatibial apices lacking setae, mesotibia with single external seta.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Mexico, Veracruz, Córdoba, 13.vii.1966, J.S. Buckett, M.R. & R. Gardner coll. One worker deposited in University of California, Davis. – Paratypes. Four workers with same data as holotype deposited in UCDC.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the name of the town closest to where the ants were taken, Córdoba.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics