Aenictus lifuiae

Aenictus lifuiae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Aenictus
Species:	A. lifuiae
Binomial name
	Aenictus lifuiae; Terayama, 1984 Specimen labels

Common Name

Hime-sasurai-ari
Language:	Japanese

In Japan this species is found in evergreen broad-leaved forests and their margins where it nests in soil and is rare (Japanese Ant Image Database). Terayama (1984) reported that the material from Meishan Cun was taken “at hard clay soil of the road cutting about 50 cm above ground level”. When another person saw it at 5 p.m., the colony was prepared for the nuptial flight. One male was in the nest entrance, and about 40 workers were seen coming out of the nest, gathering around the entrance in a circle (Jaitrong & Yamane, 2013).

Identification

A member of the ceylonicus group. Jaitrong and Yamane (2013) - Smaller specimens of A. lifuiae collected from Iriomote-jima and Okinawa-jima, southern Japan, have a mandible that is almost linear, an anterior clypeal margin that is straight or weakly concave, and a gap between between the mandibles and anterior clypeal margin. These characteristics are used to separate the A. ceylonicus group from the other groups of the genus Aenictus.

Aenictus lifuiae, though variable in size and associated morphological characters, is easily distinguished from the other members of the group as follows: masticatory margin of mandible with large acute apical tooth followed by a series of 6–7 denticles of two sizes, the larger alternating with 1–2 smaller (almost same size as in the other members of the group); a gap between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles rather small or indistinct, maximum width shorter than 1 time as wide as maximum width of mandible (large and distinct in the others).

Three specimens collected from Okinawa-jima, Japan are slightly larger than the type series from Taiwan (HW 0.48–0.53 mm in the type series; 0.55–0.58 mm in Okinawan specimens).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: China, Japan.

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

Flight Period

							X
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Notes: Taiwan.

Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.
Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Castes

Unusual for the genus in that workers and males are known for this species.

Worker


.

Nomenclature

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

lifuiae. Aenictus lifuiae Terayama, 1984: 13, figs. 1-13 (w.m.) TAIWAN.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 157 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Taiwan: Kaohsiung Hsien, Taoyuan Xiang, Meishan Cun (ca 800 m.), 25.viii.1980, (M. Terayama); paratypes: 152 workers, 1 male with same data, 5 workers Taiwan: Taitung City, Chihpen, 10.viii.1980 (M. Terayama).
- Type-depositories: NIAS (holotype); MTPC, NIAS, OMNH, TARI (paratypes).
- Status as species: Morisita, et al. 1989: 34; Xu, 1994a: 120; Bolton, 1995b: 60; Imai, et al. 2003: 209; Lin & Wu, 2003: 60; Wang, W. 2006: 637 (in key); Terayama, 2009: 124; Jaitrong & Yamane, 2013: 196 (redescription); Staab, 2015: 141 (in key).
- Distribution: Japan, Taiwan.

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

Description

Worker

Jaitrong and Yamane (2013) - (holotype and paratypes, n = 10). TL 2.55–2.80 mm; HL 0.53–0.58 mm; HW 0.48–0.53 mm; SL 0.39–0.45 mm; ML 0.75–0.88 mm; PL 0.18–0.23 mm CI 90–91; SI 82–86.

Non-type workers (larger): TL 2.80–2.85 mm; HL 0.55–0.58 mm; HW 0.50–0.53 mm; SL 0.40–0.41 mm; ML 0.83–0.88 mm; PL 0.20–0.23 mm CI 91–95; SI 76–80.

Non-type workers (smaller): TL 2.10–2.20 mm; HL 0.48–0.50 mm; HW 0.40–0.43 mm; SL 0.23–0.25 mm; ML 0.63–0.68 mm; PL 0.15–0.18 mm CI 84–85; SI 56–59.

(holotype and paratypes). Head in full-face view subrectangular, distinctly longer than broad, with sides slightly convex and posterior margin almost straight. Antennal scape extending beyond midlength of head, but not reaching 2/3 of head length; antennal segment II almost as long as III and each longer than broad; IV-VIII each slightly broader than long; terminal segment about 2 times as long as broad. Frontal carina short, slightly extending beyond the level of posterior margin of torulus. Masticatory margin of mandible with a large apical tooth, followed by 6 teeth of two sizes, a larger alternating with a smaller; basal margin lacking denticles. In smaller workers maximum width of gap between anterior clypeal margin and mandibles about 0.9–1.0 times as broad as maximum width of mandible (larger workers almost lacking the gap). Promesonotum in profile strongly convex dorsally and sloping gradually to metanotal groove; metanotal groove rather distinct but shallow; mesopleuron clearly demarcated from metapleuron by a shallow groove; metapleural gland bulla relatively large and transparent, its maximum diameter about 3.0–3.5 times as long as distance between propodeal spiracle and metapleural gland bulla. Propodeum in profile with weakly convex to almost straight dorsal outline; propodeal junction angulated; declivity of propodeum narrowly and shallowly concave, encircled with a distinct rim. Petiole excluding subpetiolar process almost as long as high, with its dorsal outline convex; subpetiolar process weakly developed, with its ventral outline convex. Postpetiole clearly shorter than petiole, its dorsal outline convex.

Head and gaster entirely smooth and shiny. Mandible very finely striate. Antennal scape entirely superficially microreticulate, but shiny. Promesonotum entirely smooth and shiny except for reticulate anteriormost portion; mesopleuron, metapleuron, lateral face of propodeum reticulate; dorsal face of propodeum punctate, somewhat shiny; petiole with reticulate lateral face and smooth and shiny dorsal face; postpetiole same as petiole. Legs smooth and shiny.

Head and mesosoma dorsally with relatively dense standing hairs; longest pronotal hair 0.13–0.15 mm long. Head, petiole, postpetiole, gaster, and legs yellowish brown; mesosoma reddish brown.

Type Material

Jaitrong and Yamane (2013) - Holotype (NAIST), 152 paratype workers (NAIST, TARI) and 1 paratype male (NAIST) from Taiwan, Kaoshiung Hsien, Taoyuan Xiang, Meishan Cun (ca. 800 m alt.). Holotype and nine paratype workers were examined.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Jaitrong W., and S. Yamane. 2013. The Aenictus ceylonicus species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Aenictinae) from Southeast Asia. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31: 165-233.
Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
Terayama, M. 1984. A new species of the army ant genus Aenictus from Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Jpn. 39: 13-16
Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Xu Z. 1994. A taxonomic study of the ant subfamily Dorylinae China (Hymenoptera Formicidae Ponerinae). Journal of Southwest Forestry College 14(2): 115-122
Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.