Stiphromyrmex robustus

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Stiphromyrmex robustus
Temporal range: Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Stiphromyrmex
Species: S. robustus
Binomial name
Stiphromyrmex robustus
(Mayr, 1868)

While the type and subsequent material studied by Wheeler has been lost, another specimen has been found is designated as the neotype.

Identification

Radchenko and Dlussky (2017) - The monotypic genus Stiphromyrmex is mainly characterized by the 12-segmented antennae with the big 3-segmented club, by the short and stout mesosoma that is distinctly narrower than the head; the promesonotum convex, the promesonotal suture and metanotal groove are absent; the propodeum with the very big, massive curved spines, directed upward and backward at an angle ca. 55°; the middle and hind tibiae are with simple spur. The frontal lobes poorly developed, only partly covering the antennal sockets. The clypeus is with two longitudinal carinae. The maxillary palpes are 4-segmented, labial palpes – 3-segmented (Wheeler 1915).

Distribution

This taxon was described from Baltic amber, Baltic Sea region, Europe (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene)..

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Biology

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Neotype
Neotype

Nomenclature

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

  • robustus. †Stigmomyrmex robustus Mayr, 1868c: 97, pl. 5, fig. 101 (w.) BALTIC AMBER (Eocene). Combination in †Stiphromyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1915h: 67.

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

Description

Worker

Radchenko and Dlussky (2017) - Neotype. HL 0.88, HW 0.77, SL 0.59, OL 0.21, ML 1.07, PNW 0.61, PL 0.40, PW 0.19, PPL 0.19, PPH 0.19, PPW 0.24, HTL 0.53, ESL 0.43, ESD 0.37, total length ca. 3.25 mm. `Ratios. HL/HW 1.14, SL/HL 0.67, SL/HW 0.77, OL/HL 0.24, PL/HL 0.45, PPL/HL 0.22, PPL/PPH 1.00, ESL/HL 0.49, ESL/ESD 1.16.

Type Material

Radchenko and Dlussky (2017) - The holotype of Stiphromyrmex robustus, as well as two specimens investigated by Wheeler, seem to be lost. There are no any parts of the old amber collections, including material of E. Berendt, in the MIBUG (E. Sontag, personal communication, 2016), as well as in the GZG.BST (A. Gehler, personal communication, 2017), where part of the old Konigsberg’s collection is preserved (see also Dlussky and Radchenko 2006a). Therefore, we designate here the neotype of S. robustus: worker, Baltic amber, No. 8483, MZ PAN. The neotype specimen completely matches the descriptions and figures of Mayr (1868) and Wheeler (1915). As the mentioned descriptions are comprehesive, we do not formally redescribe the neotype specimen, only provide the morphometrics data.

  • Neotype (designated by Radchenko & Dlussky, 2017: 778), worker, Baltic Amber (Eocene), No. 8483, MZ PAN.

References