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Crematogaster maina
| Crematogaster maina | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Crematogaster |
| Species: | C. maina |
| Binomial name | |
| Crematogaster maina Blaimer, 2013
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Crematogaster maina is a very abundant species at low elevations throughout the dry forests, littoral forests and spiny forests of Madagascar, the Comoros Islands and Mayotte. It has also been collected at higher elevations in more humid habitats (up to 1410 m), but we suspect that some of these occurrences could represent tramp-like introductions to suboptimal habitats. Crematogaster maina is commonly found in sympatry with Crematogaster dentata, Crematogaster ramamy, Crematogaster tricolor and Crematogaster lobata, and at some locations is also known to co-occur with Crematogaster mafybe, Crematogaster sewellii, Crematogaster bara and Crematogaster masokely. The species is most often encountered nesting arboreally in dead twigs or branches. This species has only been found at baits during the night and has never been observed foraging during the day. We conclude that it is nocturnal, which would explain its pale coloration.
Identification
Blaimer and Fisher (2013) - Crematogaster degeeri assemblage. Crematogaster maina is easily distinguished from other species in the C. degeeri-assemblage by its yellow body coloration. It is considerably smaller than Crematogaster bara, which shares its yellow color (HW 0.60-0.86, WL 0.66-0.93 vs C. bara HW 0.87-1.03, WL 0.98-1.22) and shorter antennal scapes (SI 0.71-0.83 vs C. bara SI 0.91-1.01).
Keys including this Species
- Key to Crematogaster degeeri species assemblage queens
- Key to Crematogaster degeeri species assemblage workers
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -11.47435° to -25.59444°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Comoros.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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. |
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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
Castes
Additional images can be found here
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0134845. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0147214. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
    
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0193399. Photographer Bonnie Blaimer, uploaded by Curator Bonnie Blaimer. | Owned by BBBC, Bonnie B. Blaimer Collection. |
     
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| Holotype of Crematogaster maina. Worker. Specimen code casent0317758. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
    
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0146394. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
      
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0178193. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
    
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0485040. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Male
Images from AntWeb
     
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| Male (alate). Specimen code casent0455252. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
     
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| Male (alate). Specimen code casent0146405. Photographer Erin Prado, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
     
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| Male (alate). Specimen code casent0156645. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- maina. Crematogaster maina Blaimer, in Blaimer & Fisher, 2013b: 39, figs. 15, 16 (w.q.m.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Madagascar: Toliara, P.N. Andohahela, p3: Ankasofotsy, 4.5 km. W Ranopiso, 160 m., 25°00.820’S, 46°38.790’E, 21.iii.2010, BBB246, transition forest (B.B. Blaimer); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: CASC (holotype); MCZC, MHNG, SAMC, UCDC (paratypes).
- Distribution: Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(n = 21) [holotype] HW 0.60-0.86 [0.77]; HL 0.56-0.80 [0.74]; EL 0.13-0.20 [0.18]; SL 0.43-0.64 [0.59]; WL 0.66-0.93 [0.87]; SPL 0.05-0.12 [0.10]; PTH 0.12-0.21 [0.18]; PTL 0.19-0.27 [0.26]; PTW 0.26- 0.36 [0.30]; PPL 0.10-0.19 [0.15]; PPW 0.21-0.34 [0.28]; LHT 0.44-0.64 [0.60]; CI 1.02-1.12 [1.04]; OI 0.20-0.26 [0.24]; SI 0.71-0.83 [0.80]; SPI 0.07-0.14 [0.11]; PTHI 0.63-0.81 [0.69]; PTWI 1.13-1.44 [1.13]; PPI 1.61-2.02 [1.84]; LBI 1.10-1.69 [1.45].
Very small to small size (HW 0.60-0.86, WL 0.66-0.93). Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth; head shape fairly quadrate or slightly wider than long (CI 1.02-1.12); posterior margin of head in full-face view laterally subangular or rounded, sometimes slightly medially depressed; occipital carinae distinct; antennal scapes usually about reaching head margin; midline of eyes situated at or slightly above midline of head in full-face view; eyes moderately large (OI 0.20-0.26) and only slightly protruding from head margin. Pronotum laterally subangular, often carinate; usually promesonotal suture indistinct, and mesonotum forming a flat plane with respect to pronotum; in larger workers (Fig. 15D-F) promesonotal suture present, and mesonotum raised and anteriorly projecting over pronotum; mesonotum usually without a posterior face; mesonotum posterolaterally with raised carinae or sometimes small denticles, but not distinctly set off from propodeum, forming one convex outline with the latter in lateral view; metanotal groove very shallow, laterally bordered by carinae but not constricted; propodeal spines short (SPI 0.07-0.14), straight and spiniform; dorsal face of propodeum very short or absent; posterior face of propodeum usually gently sloping; petiole in dorsal view broadly or sharply flared and convex, dorsolaterally rounded, without posterolateral tubercules; subpetiolar process mostly present as sharp acute tooth; postpetiole very distinctly bilobed, separated by a broad median impression; subpostpetiolar process absent. Head sculpture aciculate; pronotum costulate, carinulate or reticulate, propodeum often carinulate; rest of mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole reticulate; face usually with < ten erect longer setae, and regular shorter appressed pubescence; erect pilosity on promesonotum usually restricted to lateral margins, usually < ten setae; otherwise promesonotum dorsally with sparse appressed to subdecumbent pubescence; petiole and postpetiole usually with a pair of short erect setae posterolaterally, and shorter appressed pubescence; abdominal tergites and sternites four to seven with abundant, short, erect pilosity, and sparse appressed to decumbent pubescence throughout. Color uniformly yellow.
Queen
(n = 5) HW 0.98-1.13; HL 1.04-1.17; EL 0.29-0.34; SL 0.66-0.73; MSNW 0.86-1.02; MSNL 0.96-1.05; WL 1.65-1.82; SPL 0.00; PTH 0.31-0.34; PTL 0.36-0.41; PTW 0.45-0.50; PPL 0.22-0.30; PPW 0.40- 0.47; LHT 0.72-0.87; CI 0.94-1.00; OI 0.27-0.31; SI 0.61-0.66; MSNI 0.85-0.99; SPI 0.00; PTHI 0.83- 0.90; PTWI 1.18-1.28; PPI 1.50-1.79; LBI 2.14-2.38.
Very small to small size (HW 0.98-1.13, WL 1.65-1.82). With worker characters, except as follows.
Masticatory margin of mandibles with five teeth; antennal scapes usually not surpassing level of lateral ocelli; eyes moderately large (OI 0.27-0.31), situated slightly below midline of head in full-face view; head shape square or rectangular-elongate (CI 0.94-1.00); posterior margin straight. Mesoscutum in dorsal view usually longer than wide (MSNI 0.85-0.99); dorsal face of propodeum short; propodeal spines or tubercules absent; petiole moderately to greatly flared, postpetiole with a complete, but superficial impression; subpetiolar process variable, usually absent. Sculpture aciculate throughout; face usually with < ten 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 to decumbent pilosity, and postpetiole with additional longer dorso-posterior setae; abdominal tergites and sternites four to seven with sparse, scattered erect pilosity and regular appressed pubescence. Color as in workers; wings clear.
Male
(n = 3) HW 0.57-0.59; HL 0.45-0.48; EL 0.22-0.23; SL 0.10-0.11; MSNW 0.67-0.74; MSNL 0.61-0.66; WL 1.19-1.24; SPL 0.00; PTH 0.17-0.20; PTL 0.22-0.24; PTW 0.22-0.25; PPL 0.12-0.15; PPW 0.25- 0.27; LHT 0.60-0.64; CI 1.23-1.31; OI 0.48; SI 0.20-0.25; MSNI 1.02-1.18; SPI 0.00; PTHI 0.81-0.84; PTWI 0.93-1.17; PPI 1.74-2.02; LBI 1.94-2.03.
Very small (HW 0.57-0.59, WL 1.19-1.24). Mandibles very short and reduced, with one singular apical tooth; clypeus not much protruding; eyes fairly large (OI 0.48) and protruding, midline of eyes situated well below midline of head, almost extending to clypeal margin; antennae 12-segmented; head wider than long (CI 1.23-1.31); in full-face view ocellar triangle situated below posterior head margin, elevated with respect to rest of face; occipital carinae distinct. Mesoscutum in dorsal view as wide as to a little wider than long (MSNI 1.02-1.18); scutellum in dorsal view broadly tapering from anterior to posterior end, dorsoposterior part rounded; metanotum protruding from below scutellum; dorsal face of propodeum short; propodeal spines absent; petiole in dorsal view oval, laterally rounded, in lateral view anteriorly greatly tapering; subpetiolar process absent; postpetiole fairly flat and short, lacking median impression. Head sculpture reticulate; mesoscutum with very fine longitudinal carinulae; otherwise sculpture more or less shiny to aciculate; sparse appressed to decumbent pubescence on head and mesosoma, a few short erect setae on face may be present; rest of pilosity similar to queens. Color pale to light brown.
Type Material
Holotype Worker: pinned, CASENT0317758, BBB246, ex dead twig above ground [imaged on AntWeb]; original locality label: M’dgascar: Toliara: PN Andohahela, p3: Ankasofotsy, 4.5 km W Ranopiso, S 25º00.820’, E 46º38.790’, 160 m, 21 Mar. 2010, transition forest, B.B. Blaimer, BBB#246; deposited at California Academy of Sciences. Paratypes 4 workers, pinned, same collection and locality data as holotype. #1: CASENT0317789, deposited at South African Museum. #2: CASENT0317790, deposited at Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève. #3: CASENT0317791, deposited at Museum of Comparative Zoology. #4: CASENT0317792, deposited at University of California, Davis. MADAGASCAR: Toliara: P.N. Andohahela (parcel 3): -25.0137, 46.6465, 160 m, dry forest/transition forest.
Etymology
This species is named after its predominant distribution in the dry forests of Madagascar: maina is the Malagasy word for “dry.” The name is treated as a noun in apposition
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).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Blaimer B. B., and B. L. Fisher. 2013. Taxonomy of the Crematogaster degeeri-species-assemblage in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 51: 1-64.
- Goodman S., Y. Anbdou, Y. Andriamiarantsoa, B. L. Fisher, O. Griffiths, B. Keitt, J. J. Rafanomezantsoa, E. Rajoelison, J. C. Rakotonirina, L. Ranaivoarisoa et al. 2017. Results of a biological inventory of the Nosy Ankao island group, Parc National de Loky-Manambato, northeastern Madagascar. Malagasy Nature, Association Vahatra, 2017, 11, <http://www.vahatra.mg/volume11fr.html>
- Ravelomanana A., and B. L. Fisher. 2013. Diversity of ants in burned and unburned grassland , and dry deciduous forest in the Beanka Reserve, Melaky Region, western Madagascar. Malagasy Nature 7: 171-183.