Crematogaster patei

Crematogaster patei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Crematogaster
Species:	C. patei
Binomial name
	Crematogaster patei; Buren, 1968 Specimen labels

Morgan & Mackay (2017) report finding workers of this species foraging in a desert scrub with stony clay soil, but nothing more is known concerning the biology of this rarely collected species.

Identification

Buren (1968) - This is a very distinct species, clearly separable from all other related species by the erect and abundant pubescence. In this character it shows a striking resemblance to Crematogaster pilosa, but the two species are not alike otherwise and belong in different species groups. The slender, sharp, and shining epinotal spines of patei also provide a good diagnostic character. Similar spines are possessed by Crematogaster dentinodis but this species has a punctate epinotal declivity, as well as short, appressed pubescence and differently arranged pilosity.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 23.75° to 23.49161111°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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.

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

Nomenclature

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

patei. Crematogaster (Crematogaster) patei Buren, 1968b: 107 (w.) MEXICO (Tamaulipas).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Mexico: Tamaulipas, Tampico (Locke); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); LACM, USNM (paratypes).
- Status as species: Kempf, 1972a: 81; Bolton, 1995b: 159; Morgan & Mackay, 2017: 312 (redescription).
- Distribution: Mexico.

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

Description

Worker

Length about 3.5 mm.

Head, excluding mandibles, a little broader than long, with feebly convex sides and nearly straight posterior border giving a somewhat oblong appearance. Antennae slender; scapes surpassing hind corners of head by one or two diameters, and shaped as in Crematogaster vermiculata (as colei) and Crematogaster coarctata, the thickest part well before the apex. Humeri of pronotum apparent. Pro-mesonotum somewhat flattened in profile; mesonotal declivity absent or very short, not angulate. Mesonotal carina confined to front of mesonotum only, short but rather sharp and strong. Epinotal spines shining, very slender, divergent, of moderate length but less than interbase or thoracic least width. Petiole rather angularly trapezoidal, broader than long, an anterioventral tooth present. Hemilobes of postpetiole produced latero-posterially, the sulcus between a deep concave impression which becomes very wide posteriorly. In profile the overlap of the hemilobes is bluntly angulate.

Mandibles striate. Clypeus striate and with intercalated punctures. Genae densely punctate and with some rather widely spaced, faint striae, a few of which are carried past the eyes. Rest of dorsum of head densely punctate except short, narrow median streak on front. Venter of head nearly all punctate. Entire thorax, except declivity of epinotum and spines, densely punctate. Some faint, irregular rugae sometimes present on front of pronotum but otherwise with only the one type of sculpture. Petiole and postpetiole also densely punctate. Gaster with fine, weak puncturing, subshining.

Pubescent hairs long, numerous, and erect on all surfaces including scapes, legs, and gaster, and difficult to distinguish from the normally erect hairs, which they closely simulate in length and appearance. Of the normal erect hairs there appear to be several on the pronotum, a pair or two at rear of mesonotum, several accessory pairs on petiole and postpetiole and to be rather numerous and evenly scattered on the gaster. But the pubescent hairs are so similar that there could be as many interpretations as observers. Dark brown, the head and gaster darker than the thorax. The gaster may have been black in life.

Type Material

Tampico, state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Holotype worker and three para type workers labeled simply- Tampico, Mexico, Locke. These have been loaned from the collection of Dr. W. M. Mann in the National Museum and will be returned, except for a single paratype which I will retain.

Etymology

This species is named in honor of the late Dr. V. S. L. Pate, whose kindly and helpful advice during my studies at Cornell University is gratefully remembered.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Coronado-Blanco J. M., D. A. Dubovikoff, E. Ruiz-Cancino, M. Vasquez-Bolanos, K. Y. Flores-Maldonado, and J. V. Horta-Vega. 2013. Formicidae (Hymenoptera) del estado de Tamaulipas, Mexico. CienciaUat 25(1): 12-17.
Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133