Anochetus werneri

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Anochetus werneri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Anochetus
Species: A. werneri
Binomial name
Anochetus werneri
Zettel, 2012

Known only from the Holotype worker. Nothing is known about the biology of Anochetus werneri.

Identification

Zettel (2012) - Large and slender species, TL 9.4 mm. Head slender, with deeply emarginated vertex; striation restricted to frons, medially and (here very weak) laterally of frontal carinae. Eye large, glabrous. Mandible very long, MdI = 82; shaft medianly with two weak edges, ventral one serrate, dorsal one smooth; intercalary tooth small, but distinct, located at distal third of ventral apical tooth. Antenna very long, SI 114. Pronotum and metanotum with longitudinal costulae; propodeum with transverse costulae. Petiole with very broad node in lateral aspect, its dorsal margin rounded in anterior aspect; peduncle short. Gaster tergite 1 with sparse, fine punctures. Whole dorsum with sparsely distributed, erect setae; setae on legs comparatively long.

Anochetus werneri belongs to the A. risii species group as defined by Brown (1978) where it is outstanding by large size (TL 9.4 mm), a very broad node of the petiole (lateral aspect) and a comparatively large intercalary tooth.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Philippines (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • werneri. Anochetus werneri Zettel, 2012: 162, figs. 5, 20-23 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Mindanao I.).
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Philippines: Mindanao I., Davao Prov., E slope Mt McKinley, ca 1000 m. (3300 ft), 29.viii.1946, #31 (F.G. Werner).
    • Type-depository: FMNH.
    • Distribution: Philippines (Mindanao).

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

Description

Worker

Measurements of holotype: TL 9.40; HL 2.05; HW 1.83; CI 89; MdL 1.68; MdI 81; SL 2.09; SI 114; MsL 3.23; PnW 1.09; PtH 0.68; PtL 0.78; PtW 0.36.

Colour: Specimen having been stored in alcohol till 2010; light colour possibly being partly or entirely result of fading. Mesosoma dark brown, distinctly darker than other body parts. Head and mandibles reddish brown, centre of dorsum slightly darker. Petiole and gaster light reddish brown. Antennae and legs pale orange.

Structures: Head with strong ocular prominences and deeply emarginated vertex; striation restricted to frons, chiefly between frontal carinae, but reduced along midline. Eye large, almost reaching head sides laterally. Mandible very long, shaft slender, medial plane terminating in a small tooth, ventral edge of plane weakly serrate; intercalary tooth distinct, located at distal third of ventral apical tooth, and slightly larger than in related species. Antenna long and slender; scape strongly curved, distal part strongly narrowed; flagellum very slender, antennomeres 2 - 4 of subequal length, following antennomeres steadily but weakly increasing in length.

Mesosoma slender. Disc of pronotum with coarse costae, chiefly longitudinally orientated, but anteriorly circular, posteriorly slightly diverging. Mesonotum smooth, metanotum with longitudinal costae. Propodeum with 15 transverse costae, counted along midline. Sides of thorax almost entirely smooth and shiny, except for some weakly developed rugae near meso- and metacoxa.

Petiole with almost triangular node in lateral aspect, narrowly rounded apex, and short peduncle; sides of node with some weak rugae; in anterior aspect node distinctly compressed and its apex narrowly rounded. Gaster smooth and shiny except for sparse setae-bearing punctures.

Type Material

Holotype (worker, Field Museum of Natural History) from the south of Mindanao Island, Davao Province, east slope of Mt. McKinley, ca. 1000 m a.s.l. (3,300 ft.), 29.VIII.1946, leg. F.G. Werner (# 31)

Etymology

This species is named for the memory of Dr. Floyd G. Werner, dedicated participant of the Philippine Zoological Expedition 1946 - 1947, who collected the type.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Zettel H. 2012. New trap-jaw ant species of Anochetus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenopter: Formicidae) from the Philippine Islands, a key and notes on other species. Myrmecological News 16: 157-167.