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Aenictus bidentatus
| Aenictus bidentatus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification (junior synonym of Aenictus decolor) | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Aenictus |
| Species group: | decolor |
| Species: | A. bidentatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aenictus bidentatus Donisthorpe, 1942
| |
Identification
The three sibling species found in the decolor complex are almost identical in any morphological aspect except size and relative length of scapes. This fact led GOTWALD & LEROUX (1980) to propose the synonymy between Aenictus batesi, Aenictus bidentatus and Aenictus decolor, although “the type specimens of A. decolor and batesi are larger than those of bidentatus, but in all other characteristics [...] appear identical” (GOTWALD & LEROUX, 1980). Aenictus villiersi could also easily be included in the statement except for its poorly developed subpetiolar process.
Morphometrical analysis regarding SL and HL clearly separates the three species. Aenictus bidentatus is consistently smaller (0.54<HL<0.7) and with smaller scapes (63<SIL<76), while A. decolor is larger (0.7<HL<0.76) with much longer scapes (83<SIL<89). These two species present a developed subpetiolar process with lamella, while the third sibling species A. villiersi is similar in size to A. decolor, but with a small subpetiolar process and very long scapes (95<SIL<102).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 8° to -0.317°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps; Gomez, 2022
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda.
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. |
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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
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- bidentatus. Aenictus bidentatus Donisthorpe, 1942e: 701 (w.) GHANA.
- Junior synonym of decolor: Gotwald & Leroux, 1980: 600.
- Status as species: Gomez, 2022: 19.
Type Material
- Holotype, GHANA: Tafo. ix-1940, ex. cocoa. Nº 1352 (G.S. Cotterell) (1w) [BMNH(E)1015729, CASENT0902685] BMNH [Examined by Gomez, 2022].
- Paratypes, same data (3w each) [NHMUK012849178, NHMUK012849179], BMNH [Examined by Gomez, 2022].
Description
References
- Donisthorpe, H. 1942f. New species of ants (Hym., Formicidae) from the Gold Coast, Borneo, Celebes, New Guinea and New Hebrides. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(9): 701-709.(page 701, worker described)
- Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 59, catalogue)
- Gomez, K. 2022. A revision of the Afrotropical species of the Dorylinae ant genus Aenictus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Belgian Journal of Entomology 124: 1–86 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.5898821).
- Gotwald, W. H., Jr.; Leroux, J. M. 1980. Taxonomy of the African army ant, Aenictus decolor (Mayr), with a description of the queen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 82: 599-608 (page 600, junior synonym of decolor)
- Taylor, B., Agoinon, N., Sinzogan, A., Adandonon, A., Kouaguou, Y. N., Bello, S., Wargui, R., Anato, F., Ouagoussounon, I., Houngbo, H., Tchibozo, S., Todjihounde, R., Vayssieres, J.F. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 6-29 (doi:10.12976/jib/2018.08.1.2).