Vollenhovia escherichi

Vollenhovia escherichi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Vollenhovia
Species:	V. escherichi
Binomial name
	Vollenhovia escherichi; Forel, 1911 Specimen Labels

Long known as an endemic Sri Lankan species, V. escherichi is very easily distinguished from the other taxa treated by Akbar et al. (2023) due to its light yellowish-brown coloration as well as its small size. Recently, it was also recorded by Wang et al. (2022) from Pulau Ubin, an island off Singapore. Further investigation on the relationships between the Sri Lankan and Singaporean populations seems to be needed to better establish the biogeography of this species. (Akbar et al., 2023)

Photo Gallery

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 2. Vollenhovia escherichi, syntype worker from Sri Lanka (CASENT0908656, photographer: Will Ericson). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Typical forest habitat of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Identification

Keys including this Species

Key to Vollenhovia from India and Sri Lanka

Distribution

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 1. Distribution map of the species of Vollenhovia from India.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Singapore.
Oriental Region: Sri Lanka (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.

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.

escherichi. Vollenhovia escherichi Forel, 1911b: 198 (footnote) (w.) SRI LANKA.

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

Description

Description

References

Akbar, S. A., Bharti, H., Schifani, E., Wachkoo, A. A. 2023. Overview of the ant genus Vollenhovia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with an illustrated key and the description of a new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 908, 77-107 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2023.908.2339).
Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 422, catalogue)
Forel, A. 1911b. Ameisen aus Java beobachtet und gesammelt von Herrn Edward Jacobson. II. Theil. Notes Leyden Mus. 33: 193-218
Wang, W.Y., Soh, E.J.Y., Yong, G.W.J., Wong, M.K.L., Benoit Guénard, Economo, E.P., Yamane, S. 2022. Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy. Asian Myrmecology 15: e015006 (doi:10.20362/am.015006).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
Dias R. K. S. 2006. Current taxonomic status of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. The Fauna of Sri Lanka: 43-52. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), 2006. Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation. The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. viii + 308pp.
Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.