Crematogaster rothneyi

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Crematogaster rothneyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Crematogaster
Species group: rothneyi
Species: C. rothneyi
Binomial name
Crematogaster rothneyi
Mayr, 1879

Crematogaster rothneyi casent0193801 p 1 high.jpg

Crematogaster rothneyi casent0193801 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Subspecies
Synonyms

Crematogaster rothneyi is known from South Asia to Southeast Asia, making it one of the most widely distributed ant species in Asia. However, the species is rarely encountered in the field (Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019).

Identification

Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - A member of the Crematogaster rothneyi group. C. rothneyi is easily distinguished from other subgenus Crematogaster species by its strongly sculpted body, deep metanotal groove, distinctly bilobed postpetiole and stout body setae.

This species is very similar to Crematogaster yaharai, but can be distinguished by the broader than long antennal segments V to VI, sculptured mesopleuron, and reticulately or areolately sculptured propodeum (see photo below in caste section). The Indian specimen examined does not have distinctly developed longitudinal rugulae on the higher half of the dorsal surface of the head. The Thai specimens have broader or as broad as long antennal segments V and VI and a sculptured propodeal dorsum.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 32.9141° to 7.966666667°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, Philippines.
Oriental Region: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India (type locality), Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
Palaearctic Region: China.

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

This species is arboreal and inhabits lowland forests.

Castes

Worker

Figure 3. Crematogaster rothneyi. (A, B, C) non-type worker from Calcutta, India (HW 0.8; WL 0.9). (A) body in lateral view; (B) full-face view of head; (C) dorsal view of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole. (D, E, F) non-type worker from Sulawesi, Indonesia (HW 0.74; WL 0.88). (D) body in lateral view; (E) full-face view of head; (F) dorsal view of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole.
Figure 3. Crematogaster rothneyi. (A, B, C) non-type worker from Calcutta, India (HW 0.8; WL 0.9). (A) body in lateral view; (B) full-face view of head; (C) dorsal view of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole. (D, E, F) non-type worker from Sulawesi, Indonesia (HW 0.74; WL 0.88). (D) body in lateral view; (E) full-face view of head; (F) dorsal view of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole.

Nomenclature

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

  • rothneyi. Crematogaster rothneyi Mayr, 1879: 685 (w.) INDIA (West Bengal).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 7), 2 paralectotype workers.
    • Type-locality: lectotype India: Calcutta (Rothney); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: NHMW.
    • [Crematogaster rothneyi Smith, F. 1873: viii. Nomen nudum (attributed to Mayr).]
    • [Misspelled as rotneyi by Menozzi, 1939a: 335.]
    • Imai, et al. 1984: 6 (k.).
    • Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 151;
    • combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
    • Status as species: Rothney, 1889: 374; Dalla Torre, 1893: 85; Emery, 1895k: 467; Forel, 1903a: 682; Rothney, 1903: 98; Bingham, 1903: 140; Forel, 1906b: 89; Emery, 1922e: 151; Wheeler, W.M. 1927b: 45; Mukerjee, 1934: 6; Menozzi, 1939a: 301 (in key); Donisthorpe, 1942d: 454; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 93; Bolton, 1995b: 161; Tiwari, 1999: 46; Mathew & Tiwari, 2000: 327; Ghosh, et al. 2005: 24; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 42; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 37; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 7 (redescription); Rasheed, et al. 2019: 432; Dias, R.K.S. et al. 2020: 73; Khachonpisitsak, et al. 2020: 93.
    • Senior synonym of civa: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 7.
    • Distribution: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia (Sebesi, Sulawesi), Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines (Negros), Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
    • Current subspecies: nominal plus haputalensis.
  • civa. Crematogaster rothneyi var. civa Forel, 1902c: 203 (w.) INDIA (Maharashtra).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: India: Poona (Wroughton).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 151;
    • combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
    • Subspecies of rothneyi: Forel, 1903a: 683; Bingham, 1903: 141; Forel, 1907a: 23; Forel, 1908a: 3; Forel, 1913k: 75; Emery, 1922e: 151; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 93; Bolton, 1995b: 150; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 37.
    • Junior synonym of rothneyi: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 7.

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

Taxonomic Notes

The syntype workers of C. rothneyi civa match well with syntype workers of C. rothneyi. We treated C. rothneyi civa as a junior synonym of C. rothneyi (Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019).

Description

Worker

Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - Polymorphic workers with moderate size variation.

Head subquadrate in full-face view, with weakly concave posterior margin, angular posterior corners and convex sides. Occipital carinae developed. Mandible with four teeth, apical and subapical teeth large. Anterior margin of clypeus convex with slightly impressed median portion; anterolateral margins of clypeus protruded anteriorly; posterior margin of clypeus rounded between frontal lobes. Frontal carinae almost parallel. Antennae 11 segmented; relative scape length variable with worker size (SI, 99-117); SI lower in larger specimens; antennal club 3-segmented. Scape exceeding posterior corner of head by 1/4 of its length or more. Antennal segments V and VI each broader than long or as broad as long. Compound eyes distinctly projecting beyond lateral margins of head in full-face view, especially in large workers.

Pronotum and mesonotum fully fused without defined suture. In lateral view, posterior half of dorsolateral margin of mesonotum forming triangle shaped process, anterior half forming almost flat outline. Mesothoracic spiracle reduced to form small pit dorsoventrally. Metapleural gland opening slit-shaped. Propodeal spiracle elliptical, situated at posterolateral corner, apart from metapleural gland bulla. Metanotal groove straight in dorsal view, deep and forming concave region between mesonotum and propodeum. In dorsal view, longitudinal rugulae not connecting between mesonotum and propodeum; the boundary distinct. Propodeal spines developed; length variable in several specimens.

Petiole scoop-shaped, broader anteriorly, longer than broad in dorsal view; spiracle situated at midportion between dorsal and ventral margin of petiole in lateral view, directed posterolaterally. Postpetiole with distinct longitudinal median sulcus, bilobed in dorsal view; spiracle situated anteriorly on lateral surface in lateral view. Dorsum of head sculptured with longitudinal rugulae, but weakly developed on posterior half. Clypeus with longitudinal rugulae. Promesonotum sculptured reticulately or areolately. Mesopleuron densely sculptured in Indian specimen, or central region of mesopleuron smooth with weakly sculptured surrounding in other specimens. Dorsal surface of propodeum sculptured reticulately. Lateral surface of propodeum sculptured reticulately or areolately. Dorsal and lateral surface of petiole sculptured. Dorsal and lateral surface of postpetiole sculptured. Median sulcus of postpetiole smooth.

Standing pilosity sparse. Dorsum of head with short and erect setae. Clypeus with some pairs of erect setae. Anterior clypeal margin with one pair of long setae mixed with short setae laterally. Mesonotal dorsum with sparse erect setae. Petiole with suberect setae. Postpetiole with suberect setae. Fourth abdominal tergite with sparse erect setae.

Body almost entirely yellow, or brown, except for antenna yellowish.

Type Material

Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - Lectotype worker (by present designation) and two paralectotype workers, INDIA, Calcutta (Rothney leg.) (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna). Type locality: INDIA, Calcutta (Rothney) (NHMW).

Karyotype

  • 2n = 50, karyotype = 4M+46A (India) (Imai et al., 1984).

References

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