Strumigenys liophila

Strumigenys liophila
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. liophila
Binomial name
	Strumigenys liophila; Bolton, 2000 Specimen labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys liophila.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the lyroessa complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. Among the seven species of the lyroessa-complex which have a pronotal humeral hair liophila is immediately distinguished by its long scapes and femora, relatively long narrow head and smooth patch on the katepisternum. The only species in the whole group that approaches the dimensions of liophila is Strumigenys morphica of the elapoma-complex, but that species lacks the very derived apical mandibular dentition exhibited by liophila. A comparison of critical dimensions of all species in both complexes (but excluding members of the prosopis-complex) shows the following.

S. morphica + liophila: CI 68-71, SI 67-71, maximum length of hind femur subequal to HW.

Strumigenys aechme + Strumigenys arrogantia + Strumigenys dryas + Strumigenys elapoma + Strumigenys hostilis + Strumigenys imantodes + liophila + Strumigenys lyroessa + Strumigenys micrura + Strumigenys sydorata + Strumigenys tantilla: CI 72-84, SI 49-57, maximum length of hind femur distinctly less than HW.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.

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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Strumigenys biology

Strumigenys were once thought to be rare. The development and increased use of litter sampling methods has led to the discovery of a tremendous diversity of species. Many species are specialized predators (e.g. see Strumigenys membranifera and Strumigenys louisianae). Collembola (springtails) and other tiny soil arthropods are typically favored prey. Species with long linear mandibles employ trap-jaws to sieze their stalked prey (see Dacetine trap-jaws). Larvae feed directly on insect prey brought to them by workers. Trophallaxis is rarely practiced. Most species live in the soil, leaf litter, decaying wood or opportunistically move into inhabitable cavities on or under the soil. Colonies are small, typically less than 100 individuals but in some species many hundreds. Moist warm habitats and micro-habitats are preferred. A few better known tramp and otherwise widely ranging species tolerate drier conditions. Foraging is often in the leaf litter and humus. Workers of many species rarely venture above ground or into exposed, open areas. Individuals are typically small, slow moving and cryptic in coloration. When disturbed individuals freeze and remain motionless. Males are not known for a large majority of species.

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

liophila. Strumigenys liophila Bolton, 2000: 871 (w.) BORNEO.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.5, HL 0.73, HW 0.51, CI 70, ML 0.21, MI 29, SL 0.36, SI 71, PW 0.30, AL 0.72. Characters of lyroessa-complex. Head relatively narrow, scapes relatively long and maximum length of hind femur about equal to HW. Upper scrobe margin and leading edge of scape with spatulate to narrowly spoon- shaped hairs. Apicoscrobal hair somewhat longer and more slender those on upper scrobe margin; posterior to this the margin without projecting hairs (minute ground-pilosity may occur). Cephalic dorsum with standing hairs restricted to one or two very short hairs at apices of occipital lobes. Pronotal humeral hair remiform, pronotum otherwise entirely lacking standing hairs. Dorsolateral margins of mesonotum with three pairs of erect short remiform hairs. First gastral tergite with erect remiform hairs that are longer and stouter than those on the mesonotum. Side of alitrunk with a smooth shining patch on the katepisternum.

Paratype. TL 2.5, HL 0.71, HW 0.49, CI 69, ML 0.20, MI 28, SL 0.35, SI 71, PW 0.30, AL 0.70.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Crocker Range, 1 550-1650 m., 16.v.1987, no. 27a (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève). Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 871, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58