Leptogenys josephi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Leptogenys josephi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Leptogenys
Species group: pusilla
Species: L. josephi
Binomial name
Leptogenys josephi
Mackay, W.P. & Mackay, E.E., 2004

Leptogenys josephi casent0178821 profile 1.jpg

Leptogenys josephi casent0178821 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Locality labels indicate a preference of moist forested sites for this species.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Median clypeal lobe with weak concavity along lateral margin; scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by 3 apical widths; antennal segments II–IV approximately 2 × respective width; propodeal declivity mostly smooth and shining, with 2–3 transverse striae close to petiolar insertion.

A member of the pusilla species group. This species could be confused with Leptogenys quadrata, a morphologically similar species from western Colombia and Ecuador.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Known from Costa Rica and Panama

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 13.7695496° to 9.6658426°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (type locality), Panama.

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 josephi 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

Male unknown.

Nomenclature

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

  • josephi. Leptogenys josephi Mackay & Mackay, 2004: 256, figs. 1-6 (q.) COSTA RICA. See also: Lattke, 2011: 193.

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

Lattke (2011) - This species was recently described by MacKay & MacKay (2004) based upon two queens. During the separation of morphotypes close to Leptogenys pusilla, a group of workers and queens, both based upon larger size and more elongate basal funicular segments have been separated and considered as conspecific with L. josephi. The queen from Panama is slightly smaller in size than the Costa Rican queens and presents a more convex dorsal propodeal margin in lateral view than the relatively straight to weakly convex shape of the CR specimens.

Description

Worker

Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 5): HL 0.87 – 0.94; HW 0.55 – 0.62; ML 0.35 – 0.43; EL 0.12 – 0.13; SL 0.77 – 0.85; PW 0.50 – 0.53; WL 1.20 – 1.34; PH 0.48 – 0.52; PL 0.45 – 0.50; DPW 0.33 – 0.35 mm. CI 0.63 – 0.68; MI 0.64 – 0.71; OI 0.19 – 0.23; SI 1.28 – 1.48; LPI 0.97 – 1.07; DPI 0.67 – 0.74.

Head subrectangular in full-face view; lateral margin broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin straight to weakly concave; median clypeal lobe triangular, lateral margin with weak concavity, apex acutely pointed; lateral lobe narrow, slightly expanded at internal end into rounded lobe that forms right angle with base of median lobe; eye broadly convex in cephalic full-face view, separated from mandibular insertion by distance greater than its diameter; head widest posterior to compound eyes. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by 3 apical widths; antennal segments III, IV respectively longer than segment II; length of antennal segments II – IV approximately 2 × respective width. Mandibular basal margin broadly sinuate, row of 3 stiff hairs present basad; masticatory margin short with single apical tooth; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae; mandible of same width in oblique ventral view. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae.

Dorsal mesosomal margin mostly continuous in lateral view, straight to weakly convex; weak depression present at metanotal groove; propodeal dorsal margin forms blunt angle with declivity, low rounded lobe present at spiracular height; mesosomal side smooth and shining, mesometapleural suture distinctly impressed, continuous to weakly scrobiculate; metapleural-propodeal suture absent; propodeal spiracle round with opening directed posterolaterally; depression located between spiracle and propodeal lobe; mesosomal dorsum smooth and shining; propodeal declivity mostly smooth and shining, with 2–3 transverse striae close to petiolar insertion, short transverse striae present along lateral margin of declivitous face. Prosternum smooth and shining; anteroventral carina of mesopleuron weakly widens anterad; mesonotum 3 × wider than long in dorsal view, posterior margin straight.

Petiole node subrectangular in lateral view, slightly inclined anterad; anterior and posterior margins vertical, weakly convex; anterior margin less than half height of posterior margin; node highest posterad, dorsal margin convex, without sharp lateral edges. Subpetiolar process triangular in lateral view, anterior margin much shorter than posterior margin. Node elongate in dorsal view, anterior margin broadly convex and half the width of posterior margin, posterior margin straight, lateral margins broadly concave. Anterior margin of abdominal segment III weakly convex, dorsal margin convex; constriction between abdominal segments III – IV well marked. Body color mostly black with gastral apex ferruginous; mandible, apex of scape, and funiculus brownish-yellow; clypeus, most of scape, and legs brown. 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 usually with seta.

Queen

Lattke (2011) - With usual differences from worker, but with greatly swollen mandibles, both basal and external mandibular margins convex. Body ferruginous, mandibles yellow.

Type Material

Lattke (2011) - Holotype queen: Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Pitilla Field Station, 600 m, 2.v.1995 (R. Anderson) (William and Emma Mackay Collection) [examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Lattke J. E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 69: 127-264
  • Longino J. T. 2013. Ants of Nicargua. Consulted on 18 Jan 2013. https://sites.google.com/site/longinollama/reports/ants-of-nicaragua
  • Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
  • Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
  • Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/