Crematogaster difformis

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Crematogaster difformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Crematogaster
Species: C. difformis
Binomial name
Crematogaster difformis
Smith, F., 1857

Crematogaster-difformisL2.5.jpg

Crematogaster-difformisD2.5.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

Crematogaster difformis nests in the hollow rhizomes of the epiphytic fern Lecanopteris sp. and in the enclosed layers of old leaves of another epiphyte fern, Platycerium sp. Both epiphytic ferns establish themselves in the crown of emergent trees in Bornean lowland forests. All mature plants of the two fern species harbour C. difformis, and it always nests within the fern. The ants tend to establish territories encompassing most of the surface areas of the tree crowns where they live, defending not only their host ferns, but also host emergent trees from herbivores inside the territories. Workers of C. difformis prune lianas climbing the emergent trees on which their partner myrmecophytic ferns grow, and the distribution of the lianas is reduced by the presence of C. difformis nests inside the ferns. (Tanaka & Itioka 2011).

Identification

Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - This species is similar to Crematogaster ampullaris and Crematogaster sewardi, but can be distinguished by the medially directed setae on the posterior portion of the fourth abdominal tergite.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.966666667° to -7.502778°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore (type locality).
Oriental Region: Thailand.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Association with Other Organisms

Explore-icon.png Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
  • This species is a host for the milichiid fly Milichia myrmecophila (a myrmecophile) (Jacobson, 1910; de Meijere, 1910; Wild & Brake, 2009; Milichiidae online) (observed licking the anal secretions of ants).
  • This species is a host for the milichiid fly Milichia savannaticola (a myrmecophile) (Deeming, 1981; Milichiidae online).

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • difformis. Crematogaster difformis Smith, F. 1857a: 76 (w.) BORNEO (East Malaysia: Sarawak), SINGAPORE.
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 22), 5 paralectotype workers.
    • [Notes (i): Donisthorpe, 1932c: 450, cites 2w syntypes OXUM, “Sar”; (ii) Bolton (unpublished notes) 1978, cites 6w syntypes OXUM.]
    • Type-locality: lectotype Singapore: “Sing. 25” (A.R. Wallace); paralectotypes: 1 worker with same data, 4 workers Malaysia: Sarawak, “Sar. 33” (A.R. Wallace).
    • Type-depository: OXUM.
    • [Misspelled as deformis by Roger, 1863b: 37, and many others; misspelled as diformis by Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 74.]
    • Emery, 1901g: 574 (q.); Forel, 1909d: 225 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952b: 261 (l.).
    • Combination in C. (Physocrema): Forel, 1912f: 220.
    • Status as species: Smith, F. 1858b: 137; Mayr, 1862: 767; Mayr, 1863: 404; Roger, 1863b: 37; Mayr, 1867a: 105 (redescription); Smith, F. 1871a: 329; Mayr, 1872: 153; Mayr, 1879: 680 (in key); Emery, 1887b: 467; Emery, 1889b: 506; André, 1892b: 53; Dalla Torre, 1893: 81; Emery, 1893e: 193; Emery, 1897d: 567; Emery, 1900d: 690; Emery, 1901g: 574; Forel, 1903a: 682; Bingham, 1903: 145; Wheeler, W.M. 1908d: 390; Forel, 1909d: 225; Forel, 1910d: 124; Forel, 1911b: 201; Forel, 1912n: 57; Forel, 1913k: 78; Forel, 1915a: 28; Viehmeyer, 1916a: 126; Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 74; Emery, 1922e: 139; Wheeler, W.M. 1924b: 246; Donisthorpe, 1932c: 450; Menozzi, 1935a: 114; Wheeler, W.M. 1937a: 23; Donisthorpe, 1941l: 226 (in key); Chapman & Capco, 1951: 102; Baltazar, 1966: 251; Bolton, 1995b: 152; Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata, 2005: 18; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 22 (redescription); Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 45; Khachonpisitsak, et al. 2020: 87; Wang, W.Y., Soh, et al. 2022: 75.
    • Senior synonym of edentata: Emery, 1901g: 574; Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 74; Emery, 1922e: 140; Bolton, 1995b: 152; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 22.
    • Distribution: Brunei, Indonesia (Java), Malaysia (Peninsula, Sabah, Sarawak), Singapore, Thailand.
  • edentata. Crematogaster edentata Mayr, 1867a: 104, pl. 2, fig. 10 (q.) INDONESIA (Java).
    • Type-material: holotype queen.
    • Type-locality: Indonesia: Java (no collector’s name).
    • Type-depository: unknown.
    • [Note: may be in NHMW, but text says “Mus. Halle” (MLUH).]
    • Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 81.
    • Junior synonym of difformis: Emery, 1901g: 574; Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 74; Emery, 1922e: 140; Bolton, 1995b: 152; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 22.

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

Description

Worker

Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - HW 0.88–1.5; HL 0.84–1.34; CI 105–112; SL 0.74–1.06; SI 71–85; EL 0.15–0.28; PW 0.46–0.82; WL 1.01–1.74; PSL 0; PtL 0.26–0.48; PtW 0.19–0.4; PtH 0.15–0.26; PpL 0.16–0.28; PpW 0.2–0.4; PtHI 54–65; PtWI 74–95; PpWI 121–143; WI 90–107 (Three workers measured).

Workers with pronounced size polymorphism.

Scape just or not reaching posterior corner of head in large workers. Anterior-most portions of clypeus distinctly protruded anteriorly in large workers.

In lateral view, pronotum and mesonotum forming a single convexity; propodeum slightly raised relative to promesonotum. Anterior margin of pronotal collar slightly concave in dorsal view. Promesonotal suture sometimes visible in large workers. Metanotal groove convex posteriorly in dorsal view, deep and situated posteriorly to the posterior ridge of pronotum in lateral view; thorax strongly constricted in middle in dorsal view. In dorsal view, some longitudinal rugulae connecting between mesonotum and propodeum; the boundary distinct. Propodeal spiracle situated away from the metapleural gland orifice, the distance between them much greater than the propodeal spiracle diameter. Propodeal spines absent.

Clypeus sculptured with longitudinal rugulae.

Standing pilosity sparse on dorsal face of head, abundant on promesonotum. Dorsal face of head with decumbent setae. Clypeus with short setae. Fourth abdominal tergite with appressed setae. Dorsal setae on fourth abdominal tergite appressed and directed medially in the posterior portion.

Body color black.

Type Material

Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - LECTOTYPE worker (large worker from SINGAPORE, TYPE HYM: 1017 1-2 / 6) (by present designation) and five paralectotype workers: one paralectotype worker from SINGAPORE; four paralectotype workers from MALAYSIA: Sarawak, Borneo (Oxford University Museum of Natural History) [examined]. We have not been able to examine type-material of C. edentata Mayr. Although Emery synomymised it with C. (P.) difformis, it is impossible to clarify the synonymy from the original description and figure.


The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Crematogaster difformis

Six worker syntypes in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Sing. 25” and “Sar. 33.” Both localities are recorded by Smith.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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