Strumigenys magnifica

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Strumigenys magnifica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Strumigenys
Species: S. magnifica
Binomial name
Strumigenys magnifica
Bolton, 2000

Strumigenys magnifica casent0102575 profile 1.jpg

Strumigenys magnifica casent0102575 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Little is known about the biology of Strumigenys magnifica. The type specimens, obtained via litter-sampling, are the only collection of this ant.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the magnifica complex in the Strumigenys doriae-group. S. magnifica is closest related to Strumigenys gloriosa and Strumigenys superba, sharing the mandibular characters noted for the magnifica-complex. These species also have the main pilosity on all the dorsal surfaces of the head and body exceptionally long and luxurious. In gioriosa and magnifica the spongiform tissue of the petiole is much better developed than in superba. In the first two the lateral lobe of the petiole extends forward to the spiracle and is conspicuously spongiform even at its anteriormost point. Also in these two the ventral spongiform curtain of the petiole extends the length of the segment and is almost or quite as deep anteriorly as posteriorly. By contrast the lateral spongiform lobe of the petiole in superba is short, confined to the side of the node and not extending anywhere near the spiracle on the peduncle. The ventral spongiform curtain of the petiole is deepest posteriorly and tapers anteriorly, usually petering out near the midlength of the peduncle. S. gioriosa separates from magnifica as the former has a dense pelt of short grey pubescence on the dorsal alitrunk and waist segments. On the side of the propodeum this pubescence is so dense as to obscure the spiracle. See also under Strumigenys doriae.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia (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

Explore-icon.png 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.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • magnifica. Strumigenys magnifica Bolton, 2000: 776 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.

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 4.3, HL 1.16, HW 0.69, CI 59, ML 0.62, MI 53, SL 0.82, SI 119, PW 0.36, AL 1.18. Mandible without trace o f preapical dentition. With apical fork of mandible in frontal view the dorsal and ventral teeth are of approximately equal length, are widely separated and form a broad U-shape. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole broad posteriorly, tapering anteriorly and ex tending forward as far as the spiracle on the peduncle. Ventral spongiform curtain on petiole extending whole length of segment, not petering out anterior to spiracle on peduncle. Pilosity abundant everywhere, the main hairs extremely long and fine, subflagellate to flagellate. Longest projecting hair on upper scrobe margin Gust posterior to level of eye) extremely elongate, about 0.75 X SL. Dorsum of head with erect hairs in front of highest point of vertex that are as long and spectacular as those located more posteriorly; the longest hairs easily exceed the maximum depth of the head in profile. Longest hairs on promesonotal dorsum are much longer than maximum depth of alitrunk. Between the bases of these promesonotal hairs is short sparse dilute pubescence, the promesonotal dorsal outline, seen in profile, does not appear to have a short furry layer between the long hairs. In oblique dorsal view side of propodeum without dense standing pubescence that obscures the spiracle. Longest hairs on first gastral tergite about 0.52, approximately equal to the length of the tergite from base of limbus to apex of segment and distinctly longer than the maximum depth of the first gastral segment in profile.

Paratypes. TL 3.5-4.4, HL 0.94-1.18, HW 0.59-0.76, CI 50-53, ML 0.48-0.62, MI 50-53, SL 0.61-0.82, SI 103-119, PW 0.31-0.42, AL 0.92-1.22 (6 measured).

A non-paratypic worker from Sarawak is somewhat larger and has longer scapes than any of the type-series: HL 1.26, HW 0.74, CI 59, ML 0.68, MI 54, SL 0.95, SI 128, PW 0.40, AL 1.32.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Negri Sembilan, Pasoh For. Res. iii-iv.1994, litter sample, no. 89 (Brendell, Jackson & Ficken) (The Natural History Museum).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data but no. 13; 3 workers with same data but xi. 1994 (Brendell, Jackson & Lewis); 1 worker, Malaysia: Pahang, Cameron Highlands, trail 9, 1400 m., 27.iii.1993, #21 (Lobl & Calame) (BMNH, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Determination Clarifications

This species was referred to as Strumigenys sp. 1 in Bolton, 1998b: 92.

References

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
  • Philpott S.M., P. Bichier, R.A. Rice, and R. Greenberg. 2008. Biodiversity conservation, yield, and alternative products in coffee agroecosystems in Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodivers. Conserv. 17: 1805-1820. Data obtained from Stacy Philpott