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Nesomyrmex simoni
| Nesomyrmex simoni | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Nesomyrmex |
| Species group: | simoni |
| Species: | N. simoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Nesomyrmex simoni (Emery, 1895)
| |
Specimens have been collected from pitfall traps in savanna: Pilanesberg Mountain Bushveld (Mucina & Rutherford 2006) vegetation.
Identification
Bolton (1982) - A member of the simoni species-group. A distinctive species characterized by its large size, depressed propodeum, lack of standing hairs on the first gastral tergite, large eyes and short propodeal teeth. The closest relative of simoni is Nesomyrmex braunsi, but in the latter the propodeum is unarmed.
Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - Nesomyrmex simoni looks similar to Nesomyrmex braunsi and Nesomyrmex saasveldensis in that they all have rugo-reticulate petiolar node and rugo-reticulate sculpture is usually also evident partially or completely on head and mesosoma. It is recognized from N. braunsi by its smaller size (HW 0.783–0.884 versus 1.033–1.109), and armed propodeum (versus unarmed). It is distinguished from N. saasveldensis by lacking hairs on the propodeum.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -24.90766° to -27.1°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: South Africa (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. |
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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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- simoni. Tetramorium simoni Emery, 1895h: 35, pl. 2, fig. 22 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Combination in Tetramyrma: Emery, 1924d: 291; in Leptothorax: Bolton, 1982: 331; in Nesomyrmex: Bolton, 2003: 272. See also: Mbanyana & Robertson, 2008: 53.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1982) - TL 4.7, HL 1.10, HW 0.92, CI 84, SL 0.72, SI 78, PW 0.74, AL 1.32.
Mandibles with faint longitudinal sculpture and scattered pits. Median lobe of clypeus prominent, its anterior margin shallowly convex. Median clypeal carina distinct. Frontal carinae and antennal scrobes absent, the scapes of moderate length. Maximum diameter of eye 0.29, about 0.32 x HW and with 17-18 ommatidia in the longest row. With the head in full-face view the occipital margin shallowly convex centrally, more steeply convex laterally where it rounds into the sides. With the alitrunk in profile the promesonotum evenly convex, sloping down posteriorly to the shallow metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum more shallowly convex than the promesonotum and strongly depressed below the level of the promesonotum. Propodeum armed with a pair of teeth which are slightly shorter than the rounded metapleurallobes. Petiole node massive, domed in profile, the anterior peduncle short and narrow, equipped with a dentiform anteroventral process. In dorsal view both petiole and postpetiole inflated, broader than long. Dorsum of head finely and predominantly longitudinally rugulose, with scattered cross-meshes. On the sides of the head and occipitally a loose reticulum is present. Ground-sculpture between the rugulae a fine dense punctulation, superficial in places. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugose, the meshes narrower and usually more sharply defined on the propodeum and pedicel segments than on the promesonotum. Fine punctulate ground-sculpture present everywhere but stronger on the pedicel segments than on the promesonotum. Base of first gastral tergite finely and very densely reticulate-punctulate, the sculpture weakening posteriorly on the sclerite. Extreme base of first tergite, just behind the postpetiolar articulation, with very short but strongly developed costulae. Short erect hairs very sparse on dorsum of head, absent from all other surfaces except the petiole where a single pair is present. Hairs absent from appendages. Sparse short decumbent to appressed pubescence present on alitrunk and first gastral tergite; hairs present on tergites of gaster behind the first. Head and gaster dark brown with a dull reddish tinge, alitrunk and pedicel segments dull red. Mandibles yellow.
Mbanyana and Robertson (2008) - HL 0.924–1.021, HW 0.783–0.884, HW1 0.850–0.915, CI 83–87, SL 0.649–0.688, SI 78–83, PW 0.615–0.672, ML 1.168–1.268, EL 0.258–0.266, EI 29–33 (3 of 3 measured).
Description matches that of Bolton (1982) except for a few additional characters: promesonotal dorsum with scattered short erect hairs, petiolar node with a pair of subdecumbent hairs and a pair of subdecumbent hairs on the postpetiole; sparse pubescence present.
References
- Bolton, B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmecine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology, 46: 307-370.(page 331, Combination in Leptothorax)
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 272, Combination in Nesomyrmex)
- Emery, C. 1895i. Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3e mémoire. Formicides. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 64: 15-56 (page 35, pl. 2, fig. 22 worker described)
- Emery, C. 1924f [1922]. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [concl.]. Genera Insectorum 174C: 207-397 (page 291, Combination in Tetramyrma)
- Hita Garcia, F., Mbanyana, N., Audisco, T.L. & Alpert, G.D. 2017. Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique. European Journal of Taxonomy 258: 1–31 (DOI:10.5852/ejt.2017.258).
- Mbanyana, N. and Robertson, H.G. 2008. Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex in southern Africa. African Natural History 4: 35-55.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 271-402.
- Emery C. 1895. Voyage de M. E. Simon dans l'Afrique australe (janvier-avril 1893). 3e mémoire. Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 64: 15-56.
- Hita Garcia F., Mbanyana N., Audisio T. L., and G. D. Alpert. 2017. Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique. European Journal of Taxonomy 258: 1–31.
- Mbanyana N., and H. G. Robertson. 2008. Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in southern Africa. African Natural History 4: 35-55.
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004