Crematogaster zavattarii

Crematogaster zavattarii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Crematogaster
Species:	C. zavattarii
Binomial name
	Crematogaster zavattarii; Menozzi, 1926 Specimen Labels
Subspecies
	Crematogaster zavattarii edmeeae Santschi, 1937;

Taylor et al. (2018) report this species nesting in dead wood both on the ground and on living trees and building carton nests around and under flaky, cankerous bark. They suggest it could be a dominant species on cocoa, found on up to 2% of trees throughout the cocoa-growing area of Nigeria. It tends Homoptera and builds carton tents to protect them (Taylor & Griffin, 1981). It was also found on native shrubs and trees, on cashew and kola, and while beating weeds near a river.

Identification

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Benin, Nigeria (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

Images from AntWeb


Syntype of Crematogaster zavattarii edmeeae. Worker. Specimen code casent0912825. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.

Nomenclature

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

zavattarii. Crematogaster (Sphaerocrema) zavattarii Menozzi, 1926a: 39 (w.) NIGERIA.
- Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “very numerous”).
- [Note: Kostyuk, 1976: 97, cites 5w syntypes SIZK.]
- Type-locality: Nigeria: Port Harcourt (E. Zavattari).
- Type-depositories: IEUB, SIZK.
- [Misspelled as zavathari by Santschi, 1937g: 77.]
- Status as species: Santschi, 1928d: 66; Menozzi, 1942: 169; Bolton, 1995b: 165.
- Distribution: Nigeria.
- Current subspecies: nominal plus edmeeae.

Taxonomic Notes

Taylor et al. (2018) suggest that Crematogaster zavattarii edmeeae is a junior synonym of Crematogaster zavattarii rather than a subspecies, but provide no evidence to support this proposal. This treatment has not been followed by subsequent authors.

Description

References

Menozzi, C. 1926a. Formiche dell'Africa centrale. Boll. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 58: 36-41 (page 39, worker described)
Taylor, B., Agoinon, N., Sinzogan, A., Adandonon, A., Kouaguou, Y. N., Bello, S., Wargui, R., Anato, F., Ouagoussounon, I., Houngbo, H., Tchibozo, S., Todjihounde, R., Vayssieres, J.F. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 6-29 (doi:10.12976/jib/2018.08.1.2).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Menozzi C. 1926. Formiche dell'Africa centrale. Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana. 58: 36-41.
Stephens S. S., P. B. Bosu, and M. R. Wager. 2016. Effect of overstory tree species diversity and composition on ground foraging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in timber plantations in Ghana. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & management 12(1-2): 96-107.
Taylor B., N. Agoinon, A. Sinzogan, A. Adandonon, Y. N'Da Kouagou, S. Bello, R. Wargui, F. Anato, I. Ouagoussounon, H. Houngbo, S. Tchibozo, R. Todjhounde, and J. F. Vayssieres. 2018. Records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Republic of Benin, with particular reference to the mango farm ecosystem. Journal of Insect Biodiversity 8(1): 006–029.