Technomyrmex vapidus

Technomyrmex vapidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Genus:	Technomyrmex
Species:	T. vapidus
Binomial name
	Technomyrmex vapidus; Bolton, 2007 Specimen Labels

T. vapidus nests under stones and forages both on the ground and in low vegetation.

Identification

Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. pallipes complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. Closely related to Technomyrmex pallipes, with very similar complement and arrangement of setae. However, it is more brightly coloured than pallipes and has smaller eyes that are located distinctly more posteriorly on the head capsule. In addition, the posterior cephalic margin of vapidus usually has an extra short seta on each side, located close to the corners, that are not seen in pallipes. These are missing in some smaller workers of vapidus, but whether they have not developed or have merely been abraded away has not been established. A few weak intercastes between worker and queen have been detected, but they are at the worker-like end of the sequence and do not seem as common as in pallipes, Technomyrmex moerens or other species where intercastes are regularly developed.

Keys including this Species

Key to Afrotropical and west Palaearctic Technomyrmex

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 0.6° to -5.732599°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Kenya (type locality), United Republic of Tanzania.

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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

vapidus. Technomyrmex vapidus Bolton, 2007a: 39, fig. 6 (w.) KENYA.

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 3.2, HL 0.72, HW 0.70, SL 0.66, PW 0.47, WL 0.94. Indices: CI 97, 51 94, OJ 26, EPI 82, DTI 123.

Frontal carina with 2 setae: one above the torulus, the other at the level of the anterior margin of the eye. No seta at level of posterior margin of eye but dorsum posterior to this with 2 pairs of short stubbly setae: anterior pair about midway between level of posterior margin of eye and posterior margin of head, posterior pair very close to or at the posterior margin; all are about half the length of the seta at the level of the anterior margin of the eve. In addition the posterior margin of the head with an even shorter seta on each side, located close to the corners. In full-face view median portion of anterior clypeal margin broadly shallowly concave; posterior margin of head broadly and very shallowly concave. Eyes moderate (OT range 26 - 29), located slightly in front of midlength (EPT range 79 - 86); in full-face view outer margins of eyes fail to break the outline of the sides. Dorsum of propodeum short and more or less flat, meeting the steeply sloped declivity in a blunted angle. Number of setal (pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 3; mesonotum 1; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margins of propodeal declivity 2, above the level of the spiracle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, distributed everywhere on the sclerites; all shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head light orange-brown, mesosoma and petiole dull yellow, Easter slightly darker. Legs about the same colour as mesosoma, the middle and hind tibiae not strikingly darker than the tarsi.

Other worker. TL 2.6 - 3.2, HL 0.61 - 0.72, HW 0.54 - 0.70, SL 0.55 - 0.68, PW 0.38 - 0.47, WL 0.78 - 0.94 (15 measured). Indices: CI 90 - 97, SI 94 - 104, OI 26 - 29, EPI 79 - 86, DTI 115 - 123.

As holotype but number of pairs of mesosomal setae variable: pronotum with 1 - 3; mesonotum with 0 - 2; lateral margins of propodeal declivity 1-3. In some instances a seta may be single, not paired. The outer margins of the eyes of smaller workers just touch the outline of the sides in full-face view. In some specimens the small outer pair of setae on the posterior margin of the head may be absent (but could merely be abraded away). Gaster is usually distinctly darker than mesosoma but in some is about the same colour. The head varies from yellow, through brownish yellow, to orange-brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker (upper of two on pin), Kenya: Gatab, Mt Kulal, 9.viii.1979 (J. Darlington) (The Natural History Museum). Paratype. 1 worker (lower of two on pin) with same data (BMNH).

References

Bolton, B. 2007b. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute. 35(1): 1-149.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.
Hita Garcia F., E. Wiesel, G. Fischer. 2013. The ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)faunal overview, first species checklist, bibliography, accounts for all genera, and discussion on taxonomy and zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History 101: 127-222.