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Axinidris denticulata
| Axinidris denticulata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Axinidris |
| Species: | A. denticulata |
| Binomial name | |
| Axinidris denticulata (Wheeler, W.M., 1922) | |
A. denticulatum was described from two workers collected from fire wood. Two additional specimens, collected from swollen stems of Cuviera spp. at Masaki (between Masisi and Walikale, Zaire), were also examined by Wheeler. This species is still known only from the three type specimens. Shattuck (1991) selected as lectotype the only specimen that is in fair condition; the two lectoparatypes are so covered with mold that they are nearly worthless for diagnostic purposes. (Shattuck 1991, Snelling 2007)
Identification
Snelling (2007) - Antennal scape without and pronotum with erect hairs; medial carina present and distance between spines less than PPW; mesonotum without rugae; medial carina rounded in profile; gastral tergum 2 densely punctate.
Shattuck (1991) - A. denticulatum is similar to Axinidris kinoin in the pilosity of the head, pronotum and gaster, the sculpturing of the alitrunk, and the configuration of the propodeal spines and medial carina. However, A. denticulatum differs in having less developed scabriculous sculpturing and fewer punctures on the head, a lighter body and tarsal colour, and smaller size.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -1.06072° to -1.06072°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Democratic Republic of Congo (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. |
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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
Wheeler's Ants of Congo (1922:p192) has an account for Tetramorium meressei that states that specimen was collected from a "domatia of a Cuviera (probably C. angolensis), the other swellings of which were occupied by Engramma denticulatum (= A. denticulata)."
Species of Axinidris appear to nest exclusively within hollow plant stems, both living and dead, and in rotten wood. They are found in forested areas throughout the Afrotropical region, but are most abundant and diverse in the moist equatorial forests. Workers are primarily arboreal foragers, but may occasionally forage in ground litter.
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.
- denticulata. Engramma denticulatum Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 205, fig. 51 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.
- Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Shattuck, 1991: 114), 1 paralectotype worker.
- Type-locality: lectotype Democratic Republic of Congo (“Belgian Congo”): between Lukolela and Basoko (H.O. Lang); paralectotype with same data.
- Type-depositories: MCZC (lectotype); AMNH (paralectotype).
- Combination in Axinidris: Shattuck, 1991: 112; Bolton, 2007a: 120.
- Status as species: Shattuck, 1991: 112 (redescription); Shattuck, 1994: 9; Bolton, 1995b: 77; Snelling, R.R. 2007: 558.
- Distribution: Democratic Republic of Congo.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Shattuck (1991) - (n=1). OOD 0.30, EL 0.19, HL 0.79, EW 0.10, HW 0.71, CNW 0.05, CND 0.08, SL 0.62, AL 0.91, PpW 0.37, SW 0.25, CI 0.90, CNI 1.53, REL 0.27, ScI 0.88, SpI 1.31.
Propodeal spines directed posteriorly with the area between them fiat; HW between 0.60 and 0.80; CNI >1.50.
Head smooth posteriorly, weakly imbricate and superimposed with widely spaced, weak scabriculous sculpturing anteriorly; area posterior to eyes covered with large, widely spaced shallow punctures. Area near the mandibular insertion with a narrow area of strigulate sculpturing. Head with one pair of erect hairs posterior to the eyes and numerous erect hairs anterior to the posterior margin of the frontal lobes. Erect and suberect hairs absent from the antennal scapes. Pronotum smooth with a few widely-spaced erect hairs. Anterior mesonotum weakly imbricate, posterior and lateral mesonotum and entire propodeum punctate. Propodeal spiracles similar to tridens. Medial propodeal carina slightly expanded dorsally, located just anterior of a line drawn between the propodeal spiracles to just anterior of the petiolar insertion. Propodeal spines directed posteriorly, with the outer surfaces fiat, the distal ends narrower than the width of the propodeum, and the area between them fiat. Erect hairs present on gastric tergites 2, 3 and 4. Body colour reddish brown, with the mandibles and scapes slightly lighter, and the tarsi yellow.
Type Material
Shattuck (1991) - Two worker syntypes from ZAIRE: between Lukolela and Basoko (H. O. Lang) (American Museum of Natural History, Museum of Comparative Zoology [examined]. The worker in MCZ is here designated as LECTOTYPE.
References
- Shattuck, S. O. 1991. Revision of the dolichoderine ant genus Axinidris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 105-120. (page 112, combination in Axinidris)
- Snelling, R. R. 2007. A review of the arboreal Afrotropical ant genus Axinidris. Pages 551-579 in Snelling, R. R., B. L. Fisher and P. S. Ward. Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E.O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 80.
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922b. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 39-269 (page 205, fig. 51 worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Taylor B. 1978. Ants of the Nigerian Forest Zone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). II. Formicinae, Dolichoderinae. Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Research Bulletin 5: 1-57.
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.