Crematogaster dentata

Crematogaster dentata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Crematogaster
Species:	C. dentata
Binomial name
	Crematogaster dentata; Dalla Torre, 1893 Specimen labels
Synonyms
	Crematogaster sewellii improba Forel, 1907; Crematogaster sewellii mauritiana Forel, 1907;

Crematogaster dentata is the most widespread species within the C. degeeri-assemblage in the Malagasy region. The species occurs in dry deciduous and littoral forests of western, southwestern and northern Madagascar, in the spiny forest of southern Madagascar and in coastal shrub and mangrove habitats. A few records exist from rainforest sites, but the species is clearly adapted to more mesic habitats. Crematogaster dentata is thus most common at low elevations, but its elevational distribution range seems to be quite broad, with a maximum record of 1410 m in transition forest in Ambohitantely Reserve. On Mayotte and Juan de Nova it has been found to occupy coastal shrub habitats, whereas on Mauritius it is known to occur in rainforest habitat. Given its broad distribution range, this species co-occurs with most other species in the C. degeeri-assemblage, with the exception of the species generally adapted to higher elevations (Crematogaster alafara, Crematogaster degeeri, Crematogaster malahelo). Crematogaster dentata is most often found nesting arboreally in dead twigs and branches, and also in live plant parts. In baiting surveys in western Madagascar this species was active and attracted to fish baits during both day and night. (Blaimer and Fisher 2013)

Identification

Blaimer and Fisher (2013) - A member of the Crematogaster castanea group and Crematogaster degeeri assemblage. Crematogaster dentata is a highly variable, widespread species and thus very difficult to diagnose based upon a single or even a few characters. Workers can be very small to medium size (HW 0.72-1.10, WL 0.74-1.11), but usually have very abundant pilosity on the promesonotum ( > eight setae) and sculpture is mostly aciculate to reticulate throughout. This species is most likely to be confused with Crematogaster degeeri and Crematogaster ramamy. Crematogaster degeeri, however, has a promesonotum very distinctly set off from the propodeum and bears posterolateral denticles on the mesonotum, whereas typically in C. dentatathe transition between mesonotum and propodeum is fluent and the metanotal groove shallow. Crematogaster ramamy always shows costulate sculpture on the pronotum, whereas in C. dentata the sculpture on the pronotum is reduced-aciculate or reticulate.

Crematogaster dentata is morphologically the most variable species within the C. degeeri-assemblage. Workers show a wide range of gradual variation in size and mesosomal structure. The variation in mesosomal characters in particular can lead to confusion with other species, making C. dentata difficult to diagnose. A general trend seems to be that workers from populations of the southern and western spiny forests are on average larger than on the rest of the island. Dry and spiny forest populations are reddish to orange in color, whereas rainforest populations are brown.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.09949° to -25.59444°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality), Mauritius (type locality), Mayotte.

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

Worker

The following images are provided by AntWeb
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels
Head view
Side view
Top view
Specimen labels

Crematogaster X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Crematogaster dentata (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

Crematogaster dentata, a common acrobat ant species from Madagascar (CASC: CASENT0138306). See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

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

dentata. Crematogaster sewellei var. dentata Dalla Torre, 1893: 86.
- [First available use of Crematogaster inermis r. sewellii var. dentatus Forel, 1891b: 196 (w.) MADAGASCAR; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.]
- Type-material: holotype worker.
- Type-locality: Madagascar: (no further data) (A. Grandidier).
- Type-depository: MHNG.
- Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 30 (q.m.).
- Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 148.
- Subspecies of sewellii: Forel, 1907g: 79; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1023; Emery, 1922e: 148; Donisthorpe, 1946e: 30; Bolton, 1995b: 151.
- Status as species: Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27 (redescription).
- Senior synonym of improba: Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27.
- Senior synonym of mauritiana: Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27.
- Distribution: Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte.
improba. Crematogaster sewelli var. improba Forel, 1907g: 80 (footnote) (w.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27), paralectotype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: lectotype Madagascar: Morondava (A. Voeltzkow); paralectotypes with same data.
- Type-depository: MHNG.
- Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 148.
- Subspecies of sewellii: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1023; Emery, 1922e: 148; Bolton, 1995b: 154.
- Junior synonym of dentata: Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27.
mauritiana. Crematogaster sewelli subsp. mauritiana Forel, 1907g: 79 (w.) MAURITIUS.
- Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27), paralectotype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: lectotype Mauritius: (no further data) (A. Voeltzkow); paralectotypes with same data.
- Type-depository: MHNG.
- Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 148.
- Subspecies of sewellii: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1024; Emery, 1922e: 148; Bolton, 1995b: 157.
- Junior synonym of dentata: Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 27.

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

Description

Blaimer and Fisher (2013):

Worker

(n = 31) HW 0.72-1.10; HL 0.70-1.03; EL 0.13-0.24; SL 0.52-0.78; WL 0.74-1.11; SPL 0.01-0.10; PTH 0.12-0.24; PTL 0.23-0.35; PTW 0.24-0.41; PPL 0.11-0.21; PPW 0.21-0.38; LHT 0.55-0.84; CI 1.01- 1.11; OI 0.17-0.26; SI 0.69-0.82; SPI 0.01-0.10; PTHI 0.52-0.77; PTWI 0.95-1.31; PPI 1.51-2.02; LBI 1.26-1.46.

Very small to medium-sized (HW 0.72-1.10, WL 0.74-1.11). Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth; head shape quadrate, mostly as long as wide (CI 1.01-1.11); posterior margin of head in full-face view laterally rounded or subangular; occipital carinae usually distinct; antennal scapes variable, but often not reaching head margin; midline of eyes situated at midline of head in full-face view; eye size fairly variable (OI 0.17-0.26), usually only slightly protruding. Pronotum laterally subangular; promesonotal suture indistinct, mesonotum more or less forming one plane with pronotum; mesonotum usually without a distinct posterior face; laterally mesonotum angular and often with posterolateral tubercules or denticles; mesonotum longitudinally depressed with respect to lateral borders, sloping gently into metanotal groove; metanotal groove more or less absent; propodeal spines highly variable, from reduced minute denticles to short and spiniform (SPI 0.01-0.10), if spiniform then often downcurved; propodeal spiracles large, situated directly at base of spines; dorsal face of propodeum variable, from almost as long as posterior face to nearly absent; posterior face of propodeum from gently to steeply sloping; petiole in dorsal view oval, or moderately to strongly flared, moderately to strongly concave, usually not dorsolaterally carinate and without posterolateral tubercules or denticles; subpetiolar process variable; postpetiole wider than long, distinctly bilobed with a broad median impression; subpostpetiolar process absent. Head sculpture aciculate; promesonotum usually dorsally reticulate or aciculate, rarely pronotum carinulate; propleuron aciculate, mesopleuron areolate, metapleuron mostly reticulate; dorsal face of propodeum reticulate or aciculate, posterior face shiny; dorsal face of petiole reticulate to shiny; helcium reticulate; postpetiole dorsally aciculate; lateral and ventral face of petiole and postpetiole reticulate; face usually with four to eight erect, longer setae, and regular, shorter, appressed to suberect pubescence; erect pilosity on promesonotum variable, but usually very abundant > eight long setae; otherwise promesonotum dorsally with regular to sparse appressed to subdecumbent pubescence; petiole and postpetiole usually with a pair of longer erect setae posterolaterally, and shorter suberect, decumbent or appressed pubescence; abdominal tergites four to seven with moderately abundant, short, erect pilosity, and regular appressed to decumbent pubescence throughout. Color light brown to dark brown, black, orange-red with black abdominal segment four to seven (western and southern dry and spiny forest localities).

Queen

(n = 5) HW 1.13-1.41; HL 1.17-1.46; EL 0.30-0.42; SL 0.67-0.88; MSNW 0.92-1.19; MSNL 1.00-1.30; WL 1.73-2.43; SPL 0.00; PTH 0.30-0.38; PTL 0.35-0.43; PTW 0.41-0.52; PPL 0.26-0.39; PPW 0.40- 0.55; LHT 0.80-1.05; CI 0.95-1.03; OI 0.25-0.31; SI 0.57-0.67; MSNI 0.86-0.92; SPI 0.00; PTHI 0.76- 0.90; PTWI 1.10-1.21; PPI 1.39-1.68; LBI 2.17-2.32.

Small to medium size (HW 1.13-1.41, WL 1.73-2.43). With worker characters, except as follows. Masticatory margin of mandibles with five teeth. Antennal scapes very short, often not reaching level of lateral ocelli; eyes fairly large (OI 0.25-0.31), situated distinctly below midline of head in full-face view; head shape usually rectangular, elongate, longer than wide (CI 0.95-1.03); posterior margin straight. Mesoscutum in dorsal view longer than wide (MSNI 0.86-0.92); dorsal face of propodeum distinct but short; propodeal spines or tubercules absent; petiole moderately flared, postpetiole merely impressed behind; subpetiolar process variable. Sculpture shiny to aciculate throughout; face usually with > six longer erect setae and abundant, shorter, erect to suberect pilosity; mesonotum with abundant short, and scattered longer, erect setae; petiole and postpetiole with dense short suberect pilosity, and postpetiole often with additional longer dorso-posterior setae; abdominal tergites and sternites four to seven with abundant appressed pilosity and sparse, short, erect pilosity. Color similar to respective workers; wings clear.

Male

(n = 3) HW 0.56-0.64; HL 0.42-0.48; EL 0.21-0.23; SL 0.10-0.13; MSNW 0.65-0.74; MSNL 0.50-0.69; WL 1.09-1.40; SPL 0.00; PTH 0.16-0.17; PTL 0.20-0.24; PTW 0.22-0.27; PPL 0.12-0.14; PPW 0.24- 0.27; LHT 0.54-0.62; CI 1.32-1.35; OI 0.47-0.53; SI 0.23-0.27; MSNI 1.08-1.45; SPI 0.00; PTHI 0.71- 0.83; PTWI 0.97-1.24; PPI 1.74-2.16; LBI 2.01-2.25.

Small (HW 0.56-0.64, WL 1.09-1.40). Mandibles short and reduced, blunt and edentate; clypeus moderately protruding; eyes moderately sized (OI 0.47-0.53) and protruding, midline of eyes situated well below midline of head, almost extending to clypeal margin; antennae 12-segmented; head wider than long (CI 1.32-1.35); in full-face view ocellar triangle situated at posterior head margin, but not much elevated with respect to rest of face; occipital carinae distinct. Mesoscutum in dorsal view as wide as long or wider than long (MSNI 1.08-1.45); scutellum in dorsal view broadly tapering from anterior to posterior end, dorsoposterior part rounded; metanotum protruding from below scutellum; dorsal face of propodeum almost as long as posterior face; propodeal spines absent; petiole in dorsal view oval, laterally rounded, in lateral view greatly tapering anteriorly; subpetiolar process absent; postpetiole fairly flat, lacking median impression. Head sculpture, including clypeus, shiny to rugulose; mesoscutum with very fine longitudinal carinulae; otherwise sculpture more or less shiny to aciculate; scattered short, erect pilosity and a few longer setae on face, mesoscutum, and scutellum; remaining pilosity as in queens. Color brown.

Type Material

Crematogaster sewellei dentata: Holotype, worker, Madagascar, M. Grandidier, CASENT0101683, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
Crematogaster sewelli mauritiana: Lectotype (designated by Blaimer & Fisher, 2013: 27), worker, Mauritius, Voeltzkow, CASENT0101752, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
Crematogaster sewelli improba: Lectotype (designated by Blaimer & Fisher, 2013: 27), worker, Morondava, Madagascar, CASENT0101677, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; middle worker of 3 workers on one pin.
Crematogaster sewelli improba: Paralectotype (designated by Blaimer & Fisher, 2013: 27), 2 workers, Morondava, Madagascar, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; top and bottom workers of 3 workers on one pin.

Description

References

Blaimer, B.B., Fisher, B.L. 2013. Taxonomy of the Crematogaster degeeri-species-assemblage in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 51: 1-64 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2013.51).
Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 86, worker described)
Donisthorpe, H. 1946i. The ants (Hym. Formicidae) of Mauritius. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(13): 25-35 (page 30, Variety\subspecies of sewellei)
Emery, C. 1922c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174B: 95-206 (page 148, Combination in C. (Acrocoelia))
Fisher, B. L. 1997a. Biogeography and ecology of the ant fauna of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Nat. Hist. 31: 269-302 (see also)
Forel, A. 1891c. Les Formicides. [part]. In: Grandidier, A. Histoire physique, naturelle, et politique de Madagascar. Volume XX. Histoire naturelle des Hyménoptères. Deuxième partie (28e fascicule). Paris: Hachette et Cie, v + 237 pp. (page 196, First available use of Crematogaster inermis r. sewellii var. dentatus Forel; unavailable name)
Forel, A. 1907i. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wiss. Ergeb. Reise Ostafr. 2: 75-92 (page 79, Variety\subspecies of sewellei)
Wheeler, W. M. 1922k. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. IX. A synonymic list of the ants of the Malagasy region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 4 45: 1005-1055 (see also)