Leptogenys sianka

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

Leptogenys sianka P.jpg

Leptogenys sianka D.jpg

Specimen Label

This species has been found nesting in the epiphyte bromeliad Aechmea bracteata in Yucatan and was misidentified as Leptogenys mexicana (= Leptogenys elongata) in Dejean et al. (1995) and Dejean & Olmsted (1997). This same species was also the subject of studies on its predatory behavior by Dejean (1997), where he detected the attraction of bathytropid isopods directly into the ant nest.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - A member of the elongata species group. Cephalic dorsum mostly areolate, areolae turning to longitudinal to oblique striae-rugulae anterad of eye; mandible elongate, external and basal margins subparallel; metanotal groove shallow but distinct; smooth sulcus extends posterad from spiracle dorsad of bulla into propodeum.

This species can be confused with Leptogenys elongata on first sight but the mandibles permit easy separation as they are distinctly triangular in L. elongata.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

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

Castes

Male unknown.

Nomenclature

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

  • sianka. Leptogenys sianka Lattke, 2011: 164, fig. 21 (w.q.) 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 2.00 (1.70-2.00); HW 1.45 (1.25-1.45); ML 1.15 (1.00-1.10); EL 0.45 (0.40-0.45); SL 2.20 (1.75-2.15); PW 1.25 (1.05-1.25); WL 3.25 (2.65-3.25); PH 1.15 (1.00-1.15); PL 1.00 (0.90-1.00); DPW 0.70 (0.60-0.70) mm. CI 0.73 (0.71-0.74); MI 0.79 (0.76-0.80); OI 0.31 (0.31-0.32); SI 1.52 (1.40-1.48); LPI 1.15 (1.11-1.15); DPI 0.70 (0.63-0.70).

Head sub-quadrate in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad; lateral margin anterad of eye straight, posterad broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin straight to broadly convex; median clypeal process tapers to lamellate bluntly pointed apex; lateral clypeal process narrow, its outline smoothly joining with outline of median process. Eye broadly convex, situated slightly dorsad at mid-length, occupies over one-third of lateral cephalic margin. Cephalic dorsum mostly areolate, areolae anterad of eye becoming longitudinal to oblique striae-rugulae, small smooth patch present lateroposterad of frontal carina, clypeus with oblique striae, smoother medially; longitudinal sulcus extends posterad from between frontal carinae to one-third eye height. Scape densely punctulae, with dense decumbent pilosity and scattered subdecumbent hairs, scape extends beyond posterior cephalic margin by one-third its length; third antennal segment over 3 x longer than apical width, second antennal segment more than half length of third segment; fourth antennal segment almost half length of third segment, each funicular segment slightly wider apicad than basad. Mandible elongate, external and basal margins subparallel, weakly expanding apicad, with fine weak longitudinal strigulae and sparse punctae; chewing border edentate, corner with blunt angle; PF: 4,3.

Mesosoma with shallow, but distinct metanotal groove in lateral view that separates promesonotal margin and dorsal propodeal margin, both broadly convex; pronotal sculpture mostly areolate, posterolaterally with small rugulose patch; propleuron with longitudinal to oblique mostly parallel striae; mesonotum wider than long. Mesometapleural suture well impressed; metapleural-propodeal suture obliterated; propodeal spiracle elongate, opening directed posteriorly, smooth sulcus extends posterad from spiracle dorsad of bulla into propodeum; bulla of metathoracic spiracle round, prominent; mesopleuron mostly transversely strigulate anterad with rugulae posteroventrad and oblique to longitudinal strigulae anterad, low anteroventral carina developed anterad, absent posterad; rugulae on propodeal dorsum mostly transverse with striae close to petiolar insertion; metapleuron punctulate-strigulate, declivitous face transversely strigulate, rounding to lateral propodeal face, not separated by sharp ridge; propodeum with low irregular lobe at spiracle height; propodeal dorsum with shallow longitudinal sulcus; mesonotum broader than long in dorsal view, anterior margin convex; metanotal groove straight to convex, smooth; anterodorsal margin of mesopleuron with triangular smooth and shining patch. Propodeal spiracle elongate, almost slit-shaped.

Petiole sub-quadrate in lateral view, higher posterad than anterad; anterior margin more than one-half height of posterior margin, anterior margin straight, anterodorsal margin convex, posterior margin weakly convex to straight. Subpetiolar process shaped as curved lobe in lateral view, posterior margin concave. Node elongate in dorsal view; anterior margin convex, more than half width of posterior margin; posterior margin straight; lateral margin straight to weakly concave. Posterior face rounds to lateral face; lateral node face densely punculate dorsad, ventrad tending to smooth. Anterior postpetiolar margin broadly convex in lateral view, curving onto dorsal margin; gaster mostly finely punctulate, constriction between abdominal segments III and IV shallow; pygidium with more or less well-developed longitudinal crest; procoxae mostly smooth and shining, with anterior longitudinal band of striae. Body with abundant decumbent pilosity and scattered standing-suberect hairs. Head, mesosoma, node and most of gaster black to dark brown; antenna, mandibles, clypeus, and legs brown, apex of gaster brown. Mesotibial apex with single external seta; protibial and metatibial apex without setae.

Queen

Similar to worker except for head more oval shaped in full-face view, small round depression present medially posterad of eyes; propodeal dorsum more convex in lateral view; petiolar node wider than long in dorsal view, and gaster relatively larger in size.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Mexico, Veracruz, Estación Los Tuxtlas, Sub1, 7.vii.2001, J. Valenzuela, deposited in Instituto de Ecología. – Paratypes. (1) Mexico, Veracruz, Estación Los Tuxtlas, Sub1, 7. vii.2001, J. Valenzuela, 1w IEXA, 1w Museum of Comparative Zoology, 1w Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo (same series as holotype). (2) Same locality but PP3, 7.vii.2001, J. Valenzuela, 1w IEXA, 1w Instituto de Zoologia Agricola.

Etymology

The species name is derived from that of the Sian Ka’a Reserve in Mexico, one of the localities from which it has been collected.

References

27-264.]]